2020 Meath Senior Football Championship

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.

128th Meath Senior Football Championship
Tournament details
CountyMeath
ProvinceLeinster
Year2020
TrophyKeegan Cup
SponsorFairyhouse Steel
Date31st July - 4th October
Teams16
Defending championsRatoath
Winners
ChampionsRatoath (2nd win)
ManagerBrian Farrell
CaptainBrian McMahon
Runners-up
Runners-upGaeil Colmcille
ManagerLar Wall
Other
Matches played30
WebsiteMeath GAA

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.

Participating Teams

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

Club Location Management Pre C'ship Odds 2019 Championship Position 2020 Championship Position
Curraha Curraha Tom Rooney 25/1 Preliminary Quarter-Final Relegation Play-Off
Donaghmore/Ashbourne Ashbourne Mick Deegan 12/1 Quarter-Finalist Non Qualifier
Dunshaughlin Dunshaughlin & Drumree Martin Reilly 25/1 Quarter-Finalist Relegation Playoff
Gaeil Colmcille Kells Lar Wall 7/1 Semi-Finalist Finalist
Moynalvey Moynalvey & Kiltale John Donoghue 25/1 Non Qualifier Non Qualifier
Na Fianna Enfield & Baconstown Michael Foley 20/1 Quarter-Finalist Semi-Finalist
Navan O'Mahonys Navan Davy Nelson 11/1 Non Qualifier Non Qualifier
Nobber Nobber Sean Carolan 66/1 I.F.C. Champions Relegated
Ratoath Ratoath Brian Farrell 2/1 Champions Champions
Seneschalstown Kentstown & Yellow Furze Joe Cowley 33/1 Relegation Play-Off Relegation Play-Off
Simonstown Gaels Navan Des Lane 11/2 Semi-Finalist Non Qualifier
Skryne Skryne & Tara Mickey Johnson 20/1 Quarter-Finalist Non Qualifier
St. Colmcille's Bettystown, Donacarney, Laytown & Mornington Micky Conlon 50/1 Relegation Play-Off Non Qualifier
St. Peter's Dunboyne Dunboyne Conor O'Donoghue 9/2 Non-Qualifier Non Qualifier
Summerhill Summerhill Declan McCabe 6/1 Finalist Semi-Finalist
Wolfe Tones Kilberry, Gibbstown, Oristown & Wilkinstown Michael McDermott 25/1 Relegation Play-Off Non 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;

  • (i) Where three teams are involved - the outcome of the meetings of the three teams in their previous games in the competition. If three teams finish level on points for three places and one team has beaten the other two teams that team qualifies in first place and other places are determined by the specified order. If there are two positions and one team has beaten the other two teams that team qualifies and the second place is determined by the specified order. If there is one position and one team has beaten the other two team that team qualifies;
  • (ii) Where two teams are involved - the outcome of the meeting of the two teams in the previous game in the competition;
  • (iii) Scoring Difference;
  • (iv) Highest total scores for;
  • (v) A play-off.

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

Knock-Out Stage

The 1st placed teams in each group qualify for the Semi-Finals.

Semi-Finals Final
Summerhill 1-9  
Ratoath 1-14     Ratoath 1-14
Na Fianna 0-13     Gaeil Colmcille 1-13
Gaeil Colmcille 2-15  

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 Semi-Finals

Relegation Final

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