2005 Meath Senior Football Championship Explained

Competition:Meath S.F.C.
Season:2005
Winners:St. Peter's Dunboyne
2nd Senior Football Championship title
Relegated:Dunderry
Continentalcup1:Leinster SCFC
Continentalcup1 Qualifiers:St. Peter's Dunboyne (Semi-final) Kilmacud Crokes 2-7, St Peters Dunboyne 1-9
Continentalcup2:All Ireland SCFC
Continentalcup2 Qualifiers:N/A
Continentalcup3:Winning Captain
Continentalcup3 Qualifiers:Denis Gallagher
(St. Peter's Dunboyne)
Continentalcup4:Man of the Match
Continentalcup4 Qualifiers:Ger Robinson
(St. Peter's Dunboyne)
Prevseason:2004
Nextseason:2006

The 2005 Meath Senior Football Championship was the 113th edition of the Meath GAA's premier club Gaelic football tournament for senior graded teams in County Meath, Ireland. The tournament consists of 16 teams, with the winner going on to represent Meath in the Leinster Senior Club Football Championship. The championship starts with a group stage and then progresses to a knock out stage.

The knock-out stages of the championship were surrounded by controversy as Navan O'Mahonysl, were expelled from the championship due to the use of an extra substitute in extra-time of the semi-final. The game started in controversy too as Dunboyne had full forward Robbie Brennan sent off in contested circumstances after 5 minutes following a clash with Meath player Kevin Reilly. Having missed a first half penalty, 14 man Dunboyne led at the end of regular time but a last minute point in injury time put the game into extra time. Having 14 men for the whole semi final appeared to catch up with Dunboyne and O Mahony's ran out winners by 2 points in an ill tempered game. However having used 2 subs in normal time, the Navan club were permitted to use 3 more in extra-time but used 4. What was more galling for the Navan club was that the illegal player failed to even touch the ball late on in their two-point win. Having been advised by the Meath County board officials of the infraction at the game, Dunboyne left the decision to the Meath County Board who then asked Dunboyne to offer a replay following a campaign from the O'Mahony's club. O'Mahonys appealed their expulsion to the Meath County Board and later to the Leinster Council. On 6 October 2005, the GAA's Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA) upheld the ruling of both boards after a 4 hour meeting at Navan's Ardboyne Hotel.Navan O'Mahonys, who themselves lost twice in the group stages earlier, were left with the unique achievement of being the only club to beat the eventual champions twice in the one campaign. Skryne were the defending champions after they defeated Simonstown Gaels in the previous years final.

Wolfe Tones were promoted after claiming the 2004 Meath Intermediate Football Championship title, their first Intermediate win.

On 9 October 2005, St. Peter's Dunboyne claimed their 2nd Senior Championship title when they defeated Blackhall Gaels 1-8 to 0-8 in a keenly fought local derby game. Denis Gallagher raised the Keegan Cup for Dunboyne while Ger Robinson claimed the 'Man of the Match' award.

Dunderry were relegated after 15 years in the senior grade.

Team changes

The following teams have changed division since the 2004 championship season.

To S.F.C.

Promoted from I.F.C.

From S.F.C.

Relegated to I.F.C.

Group stage

There are 2 groups called Group A and B. The 4 top finishers in Group A and B will qualify for the quarter-finals. The 2 teams that finish last in their groups will play in a relegation play off.

Group A

Team
Trim76019045+4513
Blackhall Gaels76109474+2012
Navan O'Mahonys742112178+4310
St Peters Dunboyne74219969+309
Summerhill73409275+176
Ballinlough71605192-412
Dunderry71605698-422
Cortown716062110-482

Round 1:

Round 2:

Round 3:

Round 4:

Round 5:

Round 6:

Round 7:

Group B

Team
St. Patrick's741210589+1610
Simonstown Gaels742110492+129
Wolfe Tones7430105102+38
Dunshaughlin73319679+177
Seneschalstown733190114-247
Walterstown73319890+87
Skryne73408793-66
Kilmainhamwood716071117-462

Round 1:

Round 2:

Round 3:

Round 4:

Round 5:

Round 6:

Round 7:

Knock-out Stage

Relegation Play Off

In Group A, 3 teams finished on equal points with each team beating each other in head-to-head results. To decide who would play Kilmainhamwood (Bottom Group B) in the Relegation Final, a Preliminary Relegation Play Off was played between Cortown, Ballinlough and Dunderry.

Preliminary Relegation Play Off:

Relegation Final:

Finals

Quarter-final

Semi-final

Final:

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Trim vs Blackhall Gaels. 17 May 2005. Hoganstand.com. 17 May 2005.
  2. Web site: Ballinlough vs Cortown. 24 July 2005. Hoganstand.com. 24 July 2005.
  3. Web site: Summerhill vs Ballinlough. 6 August 2005. Hoganstand.com. 6 August 2005.
  4. Web site: Trim vs Cortown. 28 August 2005. Hoganstand.com. 28 August 2005.
  5. Web site: Dunshaughlin vs Kilmainhamwood. 10 April 2005. Hoganstand.com. 10 April 2005.
  6. Web site: Kilmainhamwood vs Simonstown Gaels. 24 July 2005. Hoganstand.com. 24 July 2005.
  7. Web site: Skryne vs Seneschalstown. 26 July 2005. Hoganstand.com. 26 July 2005.
  8. Web site: Simonstown Gaels vs St. Patrick's. 7 August 2005. Hoganstand.com. 7 August 2005.
  9. Web site: Seneschalstown vs Wolfe Tones. 14 August 2005. Hoganstand.com. 14 August 2005.
  10. Web site: Simonstown Gaels vs Dunshaughlin. 28 August 2005. Hoganstand.com. 28 August 2005.
  11. Web site: Trim vs Dunshaughlin. 11 September 2005. Hoganstand.com. 11 September 2005.
  12. Web site: Blackhall Gaels vs Trim. 17 September 2006. Blackhallgaels.com. 17 September 2006.
  13. Web site: St. Peter's Dunboyne vs Navan O'Mahonys. 18 September 2005. Hoganstand.com. 18 September 2005.
  14. Web site: St. Peter's Dunboyne vs Blackhall Gaels. 9 October 2006. Independent.ie. 9 October 2006.