2020 Meath Senior Football Championship Explained

128th Meath Senior Football Championship
County:Meath
Province:Leinster
Year:2020
Trophy:Keegan Cup
Sponsor:Fairyhouse Steel
Date:31st July - 4th October
Num Teams:16
Defending Champions:Ratoath
Winners:Ratoath
Ordinal:2nd
Manager:Brian Farrell
Captain:Brian McMahon
Runnersup:Gaeil Colmcille
Runnerupmanager:Lar Wall
Matches:30
Website:Meath GAA
Previous:2019
Next:2021

The 2020 Meath Senior Football Championship was the 128th edition of the Meath GAA's premier club Gaelic football tournament for senior clubs in County Meath, Ireland with 16 teams competing. The winner did not represent Meath in the Leinster Senior Club Football Championship as the GAA made the decision to cancel the 2020 Provincial and All-Ireland Club Championships due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games.[1] The championship starts with a group stage and then progresses to a knock out stage.

Ratoath were the defending champions after they defeated Summerhill in the 2019 final to claim their first ever S.F.C. crown.[2]

This was Nobber's return to the top flight after six years in the Intermediate grade, after claiming the 2019 I.F.C. title.[3]

The draw for the group stages of the championship were made on 21 June 2020 with the games commencing on 31 July 2020.

On 4 October 2020, Ratoath retained the Keegan Cup after defeating Gaeil Colmcille 1-14 to 1-13 in the final. Joey Wallace, who scored the winning goal in the 8th minute of injury time, was awarded the Man of the Match award.[4]

Championship Structure & COVID-19 Changes to Format

Originally, the 2020 Meath S.F.C. was planned to consist of 16 teams drawn in rotation into four groups each containing four teams. The top two teams would progress to the quarter-finals, while the bottom two in each group would contest the Relegation Quarter-Finals.[5]

The public health measures introduced to combat the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the competition being delayed with a slight change to the format. Instead of commencing in the usual April period, the championship was pushed back to the end of July.[6] While the format remained with the 16 senior clubs being drawn in rotation into four groups each containing four teams, only the top team in each group will progress to the semi-finals. Additionally, only the bottom team in each group will contest the Relegation Semi-Finals, the losers of which will play-off for the right to retain their senior status into 2021.[7]

Team Changes

The following teams have changed division since the 2019 championship season.

To S.F.C.

Promoted from 2019 I.F.C.

From S.F.C.

Relegated to 2020 I.F.C.

Participating teams

The teams taking part in the 2020 Meath Senior Football Championship are:

ClubLocationManagementPre C'ship Odds2019 Championship Position2020 Championship Position
CurrahaCurrahaTom Rooney25/1Preliminary Quarter-FinalRelegation Play-Off
Donaghmore/AshbourneAshbourneMick Deegan12/1Quarter-FinalistNon Qualifier
DunshaughlinDunshaughlin & DrumreeMartin Reilly25/1Quarter-FinalistRelegation Playoff
Gaeil ColmcilleKellsLar Wall7/1Semi-FinalistFinalist
MoynalveyMoynalvey & KiltaleSean Duggan1/10Non QualifierNon Qualifier
Na FiannaEnfield & BaconstownMichael Foley20/1Quarter-FinalistSemi-Finalist
Navan O'MahonysNavanDavy Nelson11/1Non QualifierNon Qualifier
NobberNobberSean Carolan66/1I.F.C. ChampionsRelegated
RatoathRatoathBrian Farrell 2/1ChampionsChampions
SeneschalstownKentstown & Yellow FurzeJoe Cowley33/1Relegation Play-OffRelegation Play-Off
Simonstown GaelsNavanDes Lane11/2Semi-FinalistNon Qualifier
SkryneSkryne & TaraMickey Johnson20/1Quarter-FinalistNon Qualifier
St. Colmcille'sBettystown, Donacarney, Laytown & MorningtonMicky Conlon50/1Relegation Play-OffNon Qualifier
St. Peter's DunboyneDunboyneConor O'Donoghue9/2Non-QualifierNon Qualifier
SummerhillSummerhillDeclan McCabe6/1FinalistSemi-Finalist
Wolfe TonesKilberry, Gibbstown, Oristown & WilkinstownMichael McDermott25/1Relegation Play-OffNon Qualifier

Group stage

[11]

There are four groups of four teams called Group A, B, C and D. The 1st placed teams in each group qualify for the semi-finals.The 4th placed team in each group will proceed to the Relegation Play-Off to determine which team will suffer relegation.

The draw for the group stages of the championship were made on 21 June 2020 with the games commencing on 31 July 2020.

Tiebreakers:If two or more teams were equal on points on completion of the group matches, the following tie-breaking criteria would be applied:

All Football Championships and Leagues shall be run on a combination of a league and knockout basis under Rule 6.21 T.O. Where teams finish equal with points for qualification or relegation process for concluding stages, the positioning shall be decided as follows;

Group A

Team
Summerhill33004337+66
32105739+184
Moynalvey31205561-62
Curraha30304462-180

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Group B

Team
Na Fianna32105038+124
Donaghmore/Ashbourne32104237+54
Navan O'Mahonys31203849-112
Seneschalstown31204349-62

Round 2

Round 3

Group C

Team
Ratoath33006030+306
Simonstown Gaels31204744+32
31204442+22
Nobber31204681-352

Round 2

Round 3

Group D

Team
Gaeil Colmcille33005846+126
32106035+254
St. Colmcille's31203956-172
Dunshaughlin30304060-200

Round 2

Round 3

Knock-Out Stage

The 1st placed teams in each group qualify for the semi-finals.

Final

Relegation play-off

The Relegation Play-Off will consist of the 4th-placed finishers in each group. The three winners shall retain their senior status while the outright loser shall be relegated to the Intermediate championship for 2021.

Relegation Final

Notes and References

  1. Web site: "Something had to give" - Decision to cancel Provincial and All-Ireland Club Championships. 28 June 2020. hoganstand.com. 28 June 2020.
  2. Web site: Ratoath -vs- Summerhill (2019 SFC Final). 27 October 2019. Irishexaminer.com. 27 October 2019.
  3. Web site: Nobber -vs- Trim (2019 IFC Final). 26 October 2019. Meathchronicle.ie. 26 October 2019.
  4. Web site: Meath SFC final: Wallace breaks Gaeil Colmcille hearts . hoganstand.com . 4 October 2020.
  5. Web site: Championship proposals for change ratified. 7 January 2019. Meathchronicle.ie. 7 January 2019.
  6. Web site: Meath GAA Activity Suspended - COVID-19. 12 March 2020. Meathchronicle.ie. 12 March 2020.
  7. Web site: 2020 Meath GAA Draws. 21 June 2020. Meathchronicle.ie. 21 June 2020.
  8. Web site: Seneschalstown -vs- Longwood (2019 Relegation). 6 October 2019. Independent.ie. 6 October 2019.
  9. Web site: St. Colmcille's -vs- Rathkenny (2019 Relegation). 22 September 2019. cilles.com. 22 September 2019.
  10. Web site: Wolfe Tones -vs- St. Patrick's (2019 Relegation). 20 September 2019. Meathchronicle.ie. 20 September 2019.
  11. Web site: Meath SFC Draw 2020. 21 June 2020. Hoganstand.com. 21 June 2020.
  12. Web site: Summerhill -vs- Moynalvey. 31 July 2020. Hoganstand.com. 31 July 2020.
  13. Web site: Wolfe Tones -vs- Curraha. 1 August 2020. Hoganstand.com. 1 August 2020.
  14. Web site: Moynalvey -vs- Curraha. 15 August 2020. Hoganstand.com. 15 August 2020.
  15. Web site: Summerhill -vs- Wolfe Tones. 16 August 2020. Hoganstand.com. 16 August 2020.
  16. Web site: Moynalvey -vs- Wolfe Tones. 16 August 2020. Hoganstand.com. 16 August 2020.
  17. Web site: Summerhill -vs- Curraha. 28 August 2020. Hoganstand.com. 28 August 2020.
  18. Web site: Donaghmore/Ashbourne -vs- Navan O'Mahonys. 31 July 2020. Hoganstand.com. 31 July 2020.
  19. Web site: Seneschalstown -vs- Na Fianna. 1 August 2020. Hoganstand.com. 1 August 2020.
  20. Web site: Seneschalstown -vs- Donaghmore/Ashbourne. 14 August 2020. Hoganstand.com. 14 August 2020.
  21. Web site: Na Fianna -vs- Navan O'Mahonys. 15 August 2020. Hoganstand.com. 15 August 2020.
  22. Web site: Navan O'Mahonys -vs- Seneschalstown. 29 August 2020. Hoganstand.com. 29 August 2020.
  23. Web site: Na Fianna -vs- Donaghmore/Ashbourne. 29 August 2020. Hoganstand.com. 29 August 2020.
  24. Web site: Ratoath -vs- Nobber. 31 July 2020. Hoganstand.com. 31 July 2020.
  25. Web site: Simonstown Gaels -vs- Skryne. 2 August 2020. Hoganstand.com. 2 August 2020.
  26. Web site: Nobber -vs- Simonstown Gaels. 14 August 2020. Meathchronicle.ie. 14 August 2020.
  27. Web site: Nobber -vs- Simonstown Gaels. 14 August 2020. Hoganstand.com. 14 August 2020.
  28. Web site: Ratoath -vs- Skryne. 16 August 2020. Hoganstand.com. 16 August 2020.
  29. Web site: Skryne -vs- Nobber. 30 August 2020. Hoganstand.com. 30 August 2020.
  30. Web site: Ratoath -vs- Simonstown Gaels. 30 August 2020. Hoganstand.com. 30 August 2020.
  31. Web site: Gaeil Colmcille -vs- St. Colmcille's. 1 August 2020. Hoganstand.com. 1 August 2020.
  32. Web site: St. Colmcille's -vs- Dunshaughlin. 15 August 2020. Meathchronicle.ie. 15 August 2020.
  33. Web site: Gaeil Colmcille -vs- St. Peter's Dunboyne. 16 August 2020. Hoganstand.com. 16 August 2020.
  34. Web site: Gaeil Colmcille -vs- Dunshaughlin. 30 August 2020. Hoganstand.com. 30 August 2020.