The 2015 Meath Senior Football Championship is the 123rd edition of the Meath GAA's premier club Gaelic football tournament for senior clubs in County Meath, Ireland. Eighteen teams compete, 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.
Navan O'Mahonys were the defending champions after they defeated Donaghmore/Ashbourne in the previous years final, and they successfully defended their title, becoming the first team to manage that feat since Dunshaughlin's three-in-a-row between 2000 and 2002. The Navan side defeated Na Fianna 0–13 to 1–8 on Bank Holiday Monday 26 October 2015 in Pairc Tailteann. This was the first time the final was held on a Monday. Former Meath player Gary O'Brien raised the Keegan Cup for the 20th time for O'Mahonys while goalkeeper Marcus Brennan claimed the 'Man of the Match' award.
This was Ballinlough's return to the senior grade 8 years since relegation in 2007 after claiming the 2014 Meath Intermediate Football Championship title.
The draw for the group stages of the championship were made on 9 February 2015 with the games commencing on the weekend of 10 April 2015.
Walterstown were relegated to the Intermediate grade after 51 years in the top flight. The 'Blacks' are the only Meath side to reach an All-Ireland Club SFC Final (1980–81 and 1983–84). The only club to have been in the top flight for longer are Skryne, who have played senior football since 1938 (78 years in 2015).
Team changes The following teams have changed division since the 2014 championship season.
To S.F.C. Promoted from I.F.C. Ballinlough - (Intermediate Champions)
From S.F.C. Relegated to I.F.C. Oldcastle
Participating teams The teams taking part in the 2015 Meath Senior Football Championship are:
Club Location Pre C'ship Odds 2014 Championship Position 2015 Championship Position BallinloughBallinlough40/1Intermediate ChampionsNon Qualifier Blackhall GaelsBatterstown33/1Non QualifierNon Qualifier Donaghmore/AshbourneAshbourne9/2FinalistsQuarter-Finalist Duleek/BellewstownDuleek33/1Quarter-FinalistNon Qualifier DunshaughlinDunshaughlin33/1Non QualifierQuarter-Finalist Gaeil ColmcilleKells33/1Non QualifierSemi-finalist MoynalveyMoynalvey40/1Non QualifierNon Qualifier Na FiannaEnfield9/1Semi-finalistFinalists Navan O'MahonysNavan7/4ChampionsChampions RathkennyRathkenny28/1Relegation PlayoffRelegation Playoff SeneschalstownKentstown25/1Preliminary Quarter-FinalistNon Qualifier Simonstown GaelsNavan10/1Quarter-FinalistNon Qualifier SkryneSkryne22/1Quarter-FinalistPreliminary Quarter-Finalist St PatricksStamullen28/1Non QualifierRelegation Playoff St. Peter's DunboyneDunboyne16/1Non QualifierSemi-finalist SummerhillSummerhill6/1Quarter-FinalistQuarter-Finalist WalterstownNavan40/1Relegation PlayoffRelegated Wolfe TonesKilberry15/2Semi-FinalistQuarter-Finalist
Group stage
There are 3 groups called Group A, B and C. The 2 top finishers in each group and the third-place finisher in Group A will qualify for the quarter-finals. The third placed teams in Group B and C will qualify for a Preliminary Quarter-final, with the winner earning a place in last eight. The bottom finishers of each group will qualify for the Relegation Play Off. The draw for the group stages of the championship were made on 9 February 2015 with the games commencing on the weekend of 10 April 2015.
Group A
TeamSt. Peter's Dunboyne54107958+218Summerhill 53118462+227Wolfe Tones 53207063+76Moynalvey 52306987-184Duleek/Bellewstown51315781-243Rathkenny 51405866-82
Round 1 St. Peter's Dunboyne 1-16, 1-4 Duleek/Bellewstown, Ashbourne, 10/4/2015, Wolfe Tones 2-13, 0-9 Moynalvey, Pairc Tailteann, 11/4/2015, Summerhill 3-12, 0-10 Rathkenny, Pairc Tailteann, 12/4/2015,
Round 2 St. Peter's Dunboyne 1-10, 1-9 Wolfe Tones, Pairc Tailteann, 19/4/2015, Moynalvey 3-10, 0-13 Summerhill, Trim, 25/4/2015, Duleek/Bellewstown 0-10, 0-7 Rathkenny, Simonstown, 26/4/2015,
Round 3 Moynalvey 2-18, 1-10 Duleek/Bellewstown, Walterstown, 21/5/2015, St. Peter's Dunboyne 0-14, 1-10 Rathkenny, Trim, 22/5/2015, Summerhill 1-15, 0-10 Wolfe Tones, Dunsany, 23/5/2015,
Round 4 St. Peter's Dunboyne 2-20, 0-10 Moynalvey, Summerhill, 7/8/2015, Duleek/Bellewstown 1–13, 1-13 Summerhill, Ratoath, 9/8/2015, Wolfe Tones 2-8, 1-9 Rathkenny, Pairc Tailteann, 9/8/2015,
Round 5 Wolfe Tones 0-15, 2-5 Duleek/Bellewstown, Skryne, 23/8/2015, Rathkenny 2-10, 1-4 Moynalvey, Walterstown, 23/8/2015, Summerhill 2-10, 0-7 St. Peter's Dunboyne, Dunsany, 23/8/2015,
Group B
TeamDonaghmore/Ashbourne 54108461+238Navan O'Mahonys53118059+217Skryne53206570-56Seneschalstown 52306171-104Ballinlough52305768-114St. Patrick's 50416482-181
Round 1 Navan O'Mahonys 2-17, 2-5 Seneschalstown, Pairc Tailteann, 10/4/2015, Donaghmore/Ashbourne 2-11, 2-6 Ballinlough, Walterstown, 11/4/2015, Skryne 1-14, 3-3 St. Patrick's, Duleek, 11/4/2015,
Round 2 Navan O'Mahonys 1-12, 1-8 Donaghmore/Ashbourne, Walterstown, 19/4/2015, Ballinlough 2-8, 1-10 St. Patrick's, Simonstown, 24/4/2015, Skryne 0-14, 1-9 Seneschalstown, Ratoath, 26/4/2015,
Round 3 St. Patrick's 1–12, 0-15 Navan O'Mahonys, Duleek, 22/5/2015, Skryne 0-14, 2-4 Ballinlough, Kells, 24/5/2015, Donaghmore/Ashbourne 1-11, 0-11 Seneschalstown, Stamullen, 24/5/2015,
Round 4 Ballinlough 0-12, 1-8 Navan O'Mahonys, Athboy, 7/8/2015, Seneschalstown 1-11, 1-8 St. Patrick's, Duleek, 8/8/2015, Donaghmore/Ashbourne 0-20, 1-7 Skryne, Stamullen, 9/8/2015,
Round 5 Navan O'Mahonys 2-10, 0-10 Skryne, Simonstown, 23/8/2015, Donaghmore/Ashbourne 2-16, 3-4 St. Patrick's, Duleek, 23/8/2015, Seneschalstown 1-10, 0-9 Ballinlough, Pairc Tailteann, 23/8/2015,
Group C
TeamGaeil Colmcille54107861+178Na Fianna54107467+78Dunshaughlin53207867+116Simonstown Gaels52218176+55Blackhall Gaels51406584-192Walterstown50415172-211
Round 1 Walterstown 2–9, 3-6 Simonstown Gaels, Trim, 12/4/2015, Dunshaughlin 0-15, 1-7 Gaeil Colmcille, Seneschalstown, 12/4/2015, Na Fianna 1-10, 0-12 Blackhall Gaels, Summerhill, 18/4/2015,
Round 2 Gaeil Colmcille 2-12, 1-9 Simonstown Gaels, Brews Hill, 24/4/2015, Na Fianna 3-10, 1-10 Dunshaughlin, Trim, 24/4/2015, Blackhall Gaels 1-11, 2-4 Walterstown, Skryne, 24/4/2015,
Round 3 Dunshaughlin 0-14, 1-5 Walterstown, Trim, 24/5/2015, Gaeil Colmcille 1-16, 1-8 Na Fianna, Summerhill, 24/5/2015, Simonstown Gaels 3-13, 1-10 Blackhall Gaels, Skryne, 29/5/2015,
Round 4 Gaeil Colmcille 1-15, 1-11 Blackhall Gaels, Walterstown, 6/8/2015, Na Fianna 2-10, 0-9 Walterstown, Pairc Tailteann, 8/8/2015, Simonstown Gaels 1-15, 0-15 Dunshaughlin, Pairc Tailteann, 11/8/2015,
Round 5 Gaeil Colmcille 0-13, 0-9 Walterstown, Castletown, 22/8/2015, Dunshaughlin 3-12, 0-12 Blackhall Gaels, Moynalvey, 22/8/2015, Na Fianna 1-12, 0-14 Simonstown Gaels, Pairc Tailteann, 22/8/2015,
Knock-out Stages Relegation Play Off The three bottom finishers from each group qualify for the relegation play off and play each other in a round robin basis. The team with the worst record after two matches will be relegated to the 2016 Intermediate Championship.
TeamRathkenny22003422+124St. Patrick's21102627-12Walterstown20201829-110
Game 1: Rathkenny 1-15, 2-7 St. Patrick's, Brews Hill, 4/9/2015, Game 2: St. Patrick's 0-13, 0-9 Walterstown, Seneschalstown, 12/9/2015, Game 3: Walterstown 0–9, 1-13 Rathkenny, Simonstown, 23/9/2015,
Finals The winners and runners up of each group qualify for the quarter-finals along with the third-placed finisher of Group A.
Preliminary Quarter-Final: Dunshaughlin 3-14, 3-12 Skryne, Simonstown, 4/9/2015,
Quarter-finals: Na Fianna 1-15, 0-11 Donaghmore/Ashbourne, Pairc Tailteann, 5/9/2015, Gaeil Colmcille 2-7, 0-12 Wolfe Tones, Pairc Tailteann, 6/9/2015, Navan O'Mahonys 1-18, 0-9 Summerhill, Pairc Tailteann, 6/9/2015, St. Peter's Dunboyne 1-14, 0-13 Dunshaughlin, Pairc Tailteann, 12/9/2015,
Semi-finals: Na Fianna 1-19, 0-12 Gaeil Colmcille, Pairc Tailteann, 3/10/2015, Navan O'Mahonys 0-22, 2-13 St. Peter's Dunboyne, Pairc Tailteann, 4/10/2015,
Final: Navan O'Mahonys 0-13, 1-8 Na Fianna, Pairc Tailteann, 26/10/2015,
The final between Navan O'Mahonys and Na Fianna was originally fixed for Sunday 18 October but due to a clash with Ireland -vs- Argentina in the quarter-finals of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, it was switched to Bank Holiday Monday 26 October to encourage a larger crowd to attend the final.
Leinster Senior Club Football Championship
Quarter-final: Killoe Young Emmets 0-11, 1-6 Navan O'Mahonys, Pearse Park, 8/11/2015,
References
External links