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 went on to represent Meath in the Leinster Senior Club Football Championship. The championship started with a group stage and then progressed 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.
In 2020, Ballinabrackey won the I.F.C. for the first time in their history to reach the top flight.
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 went on compete at Intermediate level for the first time since winning the 1997 Meath Intermediate Football Championship.
Championship structure The 2021 Meath S.F.C. consisted of 16 teams drawn into four groups each containing four teams. The top two teams progressed to the quarter-finals, while the bottom two in each group contested the Relegation Quarter-Finals. The losers of each Relegation Quarter-Final then contested the Relegation Semi-Finals, the losers of which entered a play-off for the right to retain their senior status into 2022.
Team changes The following teams changed division since the 2020 championship season.
To S.F.C. Promoted from 2020 I.F.C. Ballinabrackey - (Intermediate Champions)
From S.F.C. Relegated to 2021 I.F.C. Nobber
Participating teams The teams taking part in the 2021 Meath Senior Football Championship were:
Club Location Management Pre C'ship Odds 2020 Championship Position 2021 Championship Position Ballinabrackey BallinabrackeyGordon McDonnell100/1I.F.C. ChampionsRelegation Semi-Finalist CurrahaCurraha40/1Relegation Play-OffRelegation Semi-Finalist Donaghmore/AshbourneAshbourne10/1Non QualifierSemi-Finalist DunshaughlinDunshaughlin & DrumreeMartin Reilly40/1Relegation PlayoffRelegated Gaeil ColmcilleKellsLar Wall9/2FinalistQuarter-Finalist MoynalveyMoynalvey & KiltaleSean Duggan10/1Non QualifierRelegation Quarter-Finalist Na FiannaEnfield & Baconstown16/1Semi-FinalistQuarter-Finalist Navan O'MahonysNavanDavy Nelson14/1Non QualifierRelegation Finalist RatoathRatoathBrian Farrell 2/1ChampionsSemi-Finalist SeneschalstownKentstown & Yellow FurzeAnthony Malone40/1Relegation Play-OffRelegation Quarter-Finalist Simonstown GaelsNavanColm O'Rourke10/1Non QualifierRelegation Quarter-Finalist SkryneSkryne & Tara28/1Non QualifierRelegation Quarter-Finalist St. Colmcille'sBettystown, Donacarney, Laytown & Mornington40/1Non QualifierQuarter-Finalist St. Peter's DunboyneDunboyneConor O'Donoghue4/1Non-QualifierRunners-up SummerhillSummerhillPaschal Kellaghan 7/1Semi-FinalistQuarter-Finalist Wolfe TonesKilberry, Gibbstown, Oristown & WilkinstownMichael McDermott16/1Non QualifierChampions
Group stage
There were four groups of four teams called Group A, B, C and D. The 1st and 2nd placed teams in each group qualified for the quarter-finals. The 3rd and 4th placed team in each group proceeded to the Relegation Play-Off to determine which team were relegated.
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;
(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
TeamRatoath33005735+226Donaghmore/Ashbourne31204943+62Dunshaughlin 31204557-122Navan O'Mahonys31203854-162
Round 1 Ratoath 1-18, 1-8 Dunshaughlin, Ashbourne, 15/8/2021 Donaghmore/Ashbourne 0-13, 1-11 Navan O'Mahonys, Dunshaughlin, 15/8/2021
Round 2 Donaghmore/Ashbourne 0-14, 2-12 Ratoath, Páirc Tailteann, 29/8/2021 Dunshaughlin 4-11, 2-8 Navan O'Mahony's, Dunsany, 29/8/2021
Round 3 Dunshaughlin 1-8, 2-16 Donaghmore/Ashbourne, Skryne, 10/9/2021 Navan O'Mahony's 0-10, 1-15 Ratoath, Donore, 10/9/2021
Group B
TeamNa Fianna32016446+185St. Colmcille's32107347+264Ballinabrackey31115259-73Curraha30303976-370
Round 1 St. Colmcille's 4-17, 2-10 Ballinabrackey, Pairc Tailteann, 14/8/2021 Na Fianna 3-18, 1-12 Curraha, Trim, 15/8/2021
Round 2 Na Fianna 2-11, 0-11 St. Colmcille's, Páirc Tailteann, 28/8/2021 Ballinabrackey 1-13, 2-4 Curraha, Summerhill, 29/8/2021
Round 3 Na Fianna 3-11, 3-11 Ballinabrackey, Clonard, 12/9/2021 St. Colmcille's 4-21, 2-8 Curraha, Ardcath, 12/9/2021
Group C
TeamGaeil Colmcille32015640+165Wolfe Tones32015237+155Moynalvey31204964-152Simonstown Gaels 30304561-160
Round 1 Simonstown Gaels 1-15, 1-16 Moynalvey, Skryne, 15/8/2021 Gaeil Colmcille 1-7, 1-7 Wolfe Tones, Pairc Tailteann, 15/8/2021
Round 2 Moynalvey 2-7, 3-15 Gaeil Colmcille, Trim, 29/8/2021 Wolfe Tones 2-14, 0-10 Simonstown Gaels, Páirc Tailteann, 29/8/2021
Round 3 Wolfe Tones 3-13, 2-11 Moynalvey, Skryne, 12/9/2021 Simonstown Gaels 2-11, 1-19 Gaeil Colmcille, Páirc Tailteann, 12/9/2021
Group D
TeamSt. Peter's Dunboyne32015831+275Summerhill32104846+24Skryne31114641+53Seneschalstown30303771-340
Round 1 St. Peter's Dunboyne 0-10, 0-10 Skryne, Pairc Tailteann, 13/8/2021 Summerhill 1-15, 2-9 Seneschalstown, Pairc Tailteann, 15/8/2021
Round 2 St. Peter's Dunboyne 4-20, 2-6 Seneschalstown, Skryne, 27/8/2021 Summerhill 1-18, 1-12 Skryne, Moynalvey, 28/8/2021
Round 3 Summerhill 1-6, 1-13 St. Peter's Dunboyne, Páirc Tailteann, 12/9/2021 Skryne 4-9, 1-7 Seneschalstown, Stamullen, 12/9/2021
Knock-out stage
The 1st and 2nd placed teams in each group qualify for the quarter-finals.
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Relegation play-off 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.
Relegation quarter-finals
Relegation semi-finals
Relegation final
References