| 131st Meath Senior Football Championship | |
| County: | Meath |
| Province: | Leinster |
| Year: | 2023 |
| Trophy: | Keegan Cup |
| Sponsor: | Fairyhouse Steel |
| Date: | 27 July - 8 October |
| Num Teams: | 16 |
| Defending Champions: | Ratoath |
| Matches: | 38 |
| Website: | Meath GAA |
| Previous: | 2022 |
| Next: | 2024 |
The 2023 Meath Senior Football Championship is the 131st 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 are the defending champions after defeating Summerhill in the 2022 final for their third S.F.C. title in their history and their third in four years having also won the Keegan Cup in 2019 and 2020. [1]
Having only been relegated to Intermediate in 2021, Dunshaughlin returned to the Senior Football Championship by beating Duleek/Bellewstown in the 2022 Meath Intermediate Football Championship final.[2]
The draw for the group stages of the championship took place on 24 April 2023 with the games due to commence on 27 July 2023.
The 2023 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 2024.[3]
The following teams have changed division since the 2022 championship season.
Promoted from 2022 I.F.C.
Relegated to 2023 I.F.C.
The teams taking part in the 2023 Meath Senior Football Championship are:
| Club | Location | Management | Pre C'ship Odds | 2022 Championship Position | 2023 Championship Position | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballinabrackey | Ballinabrackey | 50/1 | Relegation Semi-Finalist | Relegation Quarter-Finalist | ||
| Curraha | Curraha | 100/1 | Relegation Quarter-Finalist | Relegation Quarter-Finalist | ||
| Donaghmore/Ashbourne | Ashbourne | 14/1 | Relegation Quarter-Finalist | Semi-Finalist | ||
| Dunshaughlin | Dunshaughlin & Drumree | 25/1 | I.F.C. Champions | Quarter-Finalist | ||
| Gaeil Colmcille | Kells | 10/1 | Quarter-Finalist | Relegation Quarter-Finalist | ||
| Moynalvey | Moynalvey & Kiltale | 25/1 | Quarter-Finalist | |||
| Na Fianna | Enfield & Baconstown | 14/1 | Semi-Finalist | Relegation Semi-Finalist | ||
| Ratoath | Ratoath | Kevin Reilly | 11/10 | Champions | ||
| Seneschalstown | Kentstown & Yellow Furze | 80/1 | Relegation Finalist | Relegation Quarter-Finalist | ||
| Simonstown Gaels | Navan | 16/1 | Relegation Quarter-Finalist | Quarter-Finalist | ||
| Skryne | Skryne & Tara | 20/1 | Quarter-Finalist | |||
| St. Colmcille's | Bettystown, Donacarney, Laytown & Mornington | 33/1 | Relegation Semi-Finalist | Quarter-Finalist | ||
| St. Peter's Dunboyne | Dunboyne | 9/1 | Relegation Quarter-Finalist | Relegation Semi-Finalist | ||
| Summerhill | Summerhill | 4/1 | Runners-up | |||
| Trim | Trim | 25/1 | Quarter-Finalist | Quarter-Finalist | ||
| Wolfe Tones | Kilberry, Gibbstown, Oristown & Wilkinstown | 10/1 | Semi-Finalist | Semi-Finalist |
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 was made on 24 April 2023.
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 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dunshaughlin | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 36 | +6 | 6 | |
| Donaghmore/Ashbourne | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 38 | 39 | -1 | 2 | |
| Na Fianna | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 33 | 34 | -1 | 2 | |
| Curraha | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 39 | -4 | 2 |
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
| Team | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simonstown Gaels | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 42 | 38 | +4 | 5 | |
| Trim | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 41 | 38 | +3 | 4 | |
| St. Peter's Dunboyne | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 43 | 39 | +4 | 2 | |
| Seneschalstown | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 47 | 58 | -11 | 1 |
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
| Team | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Colmcille's | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 38 | 29 | +9 | 5 | |
| Ratoath | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 62 | 36 | +26 | 4 | |
| Moynalvey | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 36 | 39 | -3 | 3 | |
| Skryne | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 33 | 65 | -32 | 0 |
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
| Team | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summerhill | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 26 | +28 | 6 | |
| Wolfe Tones | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 37 | +9 | 4 | |
| Ballinabrackey | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 46 | -9 | 0 | |
| Gaeil Colmcille | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 29 | 57 | -28 | 0 |
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
The 1st and 2nd placed teams in each group qualify for the quarter-finals. Quarter Final pairings were drawn with one group winner and one 2nd placed team in each pair with no repeat pairings from group stages. Semi Final pairings were determined by an open draw. The draw for the quarter-finals and Semi-Finals took place on 28th August 2023.[36]
The Relegation Play-Off consists of the 3rd and 4th-placed finishers in each group. The winners of each playoff round retain their senior status while the outright loser will be relegated to the Intermediate championship for 2024. The draw for the relegation playoffs took place on 28th August 2023.[36]