| 129th Meath Senior Football Championship | |
| County: | Meath |
| Province: | Leinster |
| Year: | 2021 |
| Trophy: | Keegan Cup |
| Sponsor: | Fairyhouse Steel |
| Date: | 13 August - 8 November |
| Num Teams: | 16 |
| Defending Champions: | Ratoath |
| Winners: | Wolfe Tones |
| Ordinal: | 2nd |
| Manager: | Michael McDermott |
| Captain: | Shane Glynn |
| Runnersup: | St. Peter's Dunboyne |
| Runnerupmanager: | Conor O'Donohue |
| Relegated: | Dunshaughlin |
| Matches: | 38 |
| Total Scored: | 98-871 (1165 points) |
| Website: | Meath GAA |
| Previous: | 2020 |
| Next: | 2022 |
The 2021 Meath Senior Football Championship was the 129th edition of the Meath GAA's premier club Gaelic football tournament for senior clubs in County Meath, Ireland with 16 teams competing. The winner will represent Meath in the Leinster Senior Club Football Championship. The championship starts with a group stage and then progresses to a knock out stage.
Ratoath were the defending champions after they defeated Gaeil Colmcille in the 2020 final to claim their second S.F.C. crown and their second S.F.C. championship in a row.[1]
In 2020, Ballinabrackey won the I.F.C. for the first time in their history to reach the top flight.[2]
The draw for the group stages of the championship were made on 20 June 2021 with the games commencing on 13 August 2021.
On 7 November 2021, Wolfe Tones won the Keegan Cup by beating St. Peter's Dunboyne 1-9 to 0-9 in the final. This was Wolfe Tones' second Keegan Cup success in their history and their first since 2006. Wolfe Tones captain and defender, Shane Glynn, was awarded the Man of the Match.
Dunshaughlin were relegated to the Meath Intermediate Football Championship after losing to Navan O'Mahony's in the relegation playoff final. They will compete at Intermediate level for the first time since winning the 1997 Meath Intermediate Football Championship.
The 2021 Meath S.F.C. consists of 16 teams drawn into four groups each containing four teams. The top two teams progress to the quarter-finals, while the bottom two in each group contest the Relegation Quarter-Finals. The losers of each Relegation Quarter-Final then contest the Relegation Semi-Finals, the losers of which will play-off for the right to retain their senior status into 2022.[3]
The following teams have changed division since the 2020 championship season.
Promoted from 2020 I.F.C.
Relegated to 2021 I.F.C.
The teams taking part in the 2021 Meath Senior Football Championship are:
| Club | Location | Management | Pre C'ship Odds | 2020 Championship Position | 2021 Championship Position | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballinabrackey | Ballinabrackey | Gordon McDonnell | 100/1 | I.F.C. Champions | Relegation Semi-Finalist | |
| Curraha | Curraha | 40/1 | Relegation Play-Off | Relegation Semi-Finalist | ||
| Donaghmore/Ashbourne | Ashbourne | 10/1 | Non Qualifier | Semi-Finalist | ||
| Dunshaughlin | Dunshaughlin & Drumree | Martin Reilly | 40/1 | Relegation Playoff | Relegated | |
| Gaeil Colmcille | Kells | Lar Wall | 9/2 | Finalist | Quarter-Finalist | |
| Moynalvey | Moynalvey & Kiltale | Sean Duggan | 10/1 | Non Qualifier | Relegation Quarter-Finalist | |
| Na Fianna | Enfield & Baconstown | 16/1 | Semi-Finalist | Quarter-Finlaist | ||
| Navan O'Mahonys | Navan | Davy Nelson | 14/1 | Non Qualifier | Relegation Finalist | |
| Ratoath | Ratoath | Brian Farrell | 2/1 | Champions | Semi-Finalist | |
| Seneschalstown | Kentstown & Yellow Furze | Anthony Malone | 40/1 | Relegation Play-Off | Relegation Quarter-Finalist | |
| Simonstown Gaels | Navan | Colm O'Rourke | 10/1 | Non Qualifier | Relegation Quarter-Finalist | |
| Skryne | Skryne & Tara | 28/1 | Non Qualifier | Relegation Quarter-Finalist | ||
| St. Colmcille's | Bettystown, Donacarney, Laytown & Mornington | 40/1 | Non Qualifier | Quarter-Finalist | ||
| St. Peter's Dunboyne | Dunboyne | Conor O'Donoghue | 4/1 | Non-Qualifier | Runners-up | |
| Summerhill | Summerhill | Paschal Kellaghan | 7/1 | Semi-Finalist | Quarter-Finalist | |
| Wolfe Tones | Kilberry, Gibbstown, Oristown & Wilkinstown | Michael McDermott | 16/1 | Non Qualifier | Champions |
There are four groups of four teams called Group A, B, C and D. The 1st and 2nd placed teams in each group qualify for the quarter-finals.The 3rd and 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 20 June 2021.
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;
| Team | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ratoath | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 57 | 35 | +22 | 6 | |
| Donaghmore/Ashbourne | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 49 | 43 | +6 | 2 | |
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 45 | 57 | -12 | 2 | ||
| Navan O'Mahonys | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 38 | 54 | -16 | 2 |
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
| Team | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Na Fianna | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 64 | 46 | +18 | 5 | |
| St. Colmcille's | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 73 | 47 | +26 | 4 | |
| Ballinabrackey | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 52 | 59 | -7 | 3 | |
| Curraha | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 39 | 76 | -37 | 0 |
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
| Team | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaeil Colmcille | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 56 | 40 | +16 | 5 | |
| Wolfe Tones | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 52 | 37 | +15 | 5 | |
| Moynalvey | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 49 | 64 | -15 | 2 | |
| 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 45 | 61 | -16 | 0 |
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
| Team | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Peter's Dunboyne | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 58 | 31 | +27 | 5 | |
| Summerhill | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 48 | 46 | +2 | 4 | |
| Skryne | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 46 | 41 | +5 | 3 | |
| Seneschalstown | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 37 | 71 | -34 | 0 |
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
The 1st and 2nd placed teams in each group qualify for the quarter-finals.
The Relegation Play-Off consisted of the 3rd and 4th-placed finishers in each group. The winners of each playoff retained their senior status while the outright loser was relegated to the Intermediate championship for 2022. Navan O'Mahony's defeated Dunshaughlin in the relegation final to retain their senior status while Dunshaughlin were relegated to the 2022 Meath Intermediate Football Championship.