The 2023 Meath Intermediate Football Championship was the 97th edition of the Meath GAA's premier club Gaelic football tournament for Intermediate graded teams in County Meath, Ireland. The tournament consisted of 16 teams and started with a group stage before progressing to a knock out stage. Rathkenny won and represented Meath in the Leinster Intermediate Club Football Championship.
Dunshaughlin were the 2022 Meath Intermediate Football Champions after they defeated Duleek/Bellewstown by 0-17 to 0-07 in the final.
Navan O'Mahonys were relegated from the Senior Football Championship in 2022 after playing in the Senior Football Championship since 2004 and winning four Meath Senior Football Championships within that time. Castletown were promoted to the I.F.C. after defeating Dunsany 1-12 to 0-11 in the Meath Junior Football Championship. Clann na nGael, Kilmainham and St. Vincent's were relegated to the 2023 Meath Junior Football Championship.
The draws for the group stages of the championship took place on 24 April 2023 with the games commencing on 28 July 2023.
On 7 October 2023, Rathkenny claimed their third I.F.C title and secured their return to the senior ranks for the first time since 2019 when defeating Duleek/Bellewstown 1-18 to 2-14 in the final.
Dunderry were relegated to the Meath Junior Football Championship after losing to Longwood in the relegation play-off final.
Championship structure The 2023 Meath I.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 would play-off for the right to retain their intermediate status into 2025.
Team changes The following teams have changed division since the 2022 championship season.
From I.F.C. Promoted to 2023 S.F.C. Dunshaughlin - (Intermediate Champions)
Relegated to 2023 Meath Junior Football Championship Clann na nGael Kilmainham St. Vincent's
To I.F.C. Relegated from 2022 S.F.C. Navan O'Mahonys
Promoted from 2022 J.F.C. Castletown - (Junior 'A' Champions)
Participating teams The teams taking part in the 2023 Meath Intermediate Football Championship were: ClubLocationManagement2022 Championship Position2023 Championship Position BallivorBallivorNon-QualifierQuarter-Finalist BectiveNavanDavid NolanNon-QualifierRelegation Semi-Finalist Blackhall GaelsBatterstown & KilcloonNon-QualifierRelegation Quarter-Finalist CastletownCastletown-KilpatrickAidan Young2022 JFC ChampionsQuarter-Finalist Drumbaragh EmmetsDrumbaragh, KellsDavy CahillRelegation PlayoffRelegation Quarter-Finalist Duleek/BellewstownDuleek & BellewstownJoe SheridanRunners-UpRunners-Up DunderryDunderryMichael ClarkeSemi-FinalistRelegated to 2024 JFC LongwoodLongwoodNoel KerriganNon-QualifierRelegation Finalist Meath HillMeath HillShane McCoyNon-QualifierQuarter-Finalist Navan O'MahonysNavanDamien Moran & Rory MaguireRelegated from 2022 SFCSemi-Finalist NobberNobberPaddy BatesSemi-FinalistRelegation Semi-Finalist OldcastleOldcastleJude McNabbQuarter-FinalistRelegation Quarter-Finalist RathkennyRathkennyDonal CurtisQuarter-FinalistChampions St. Michael'sCarlanstown & KilbegMick O'RourkeNon-QualifierRelegation Quarter-Finalist St. Patrick'sStamullenRonan Kearns & Daithi WhyteQuarter-FinalistSemi-Finalist WalterstownJohnstownNiall ReynoldsQuarter-FinalistQuarter-Finalist
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 would be relegated.
The draws for the group stage of the championship were made on 24 April 2023
Group A
TeamMatchesScorePtsPldWDLForAgainstDiff Navan O'Mahonys32105243 +95 Rathkenny31115139 +123 Drumbaragh Emmets31024261 -192 Oldcastle30213941 -22
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Group B
TeamMatchesScorePtsPldWDLForAgainstDiff Duleek/Bellewstown33004633 +136 Castletown32014645 +14 St. Michael's31023642 -62 Blackhall Gaels30033644 -80
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Group C
TeamMatchesScorePtsPldWDLForAgainstDiff Walterstown33006142 +196 Ballivor32016535 +304 Nobber31023561 -262 Longwood30034568 -230
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Group D
TeamMatchesScorePtsPldWDLForAgainstDiff St. Patrick's33004734 +136 Meath Hill32015130 +214 Bective31024349 -62 Dunderry30032654 -280
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Knock-out stage The 1st and 2nd placed teams in each group qualified 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 the 28 August 2023.
Bracket
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Relegation play-offs The relegation play-off consisted of the 3rd and 4th-placed finishers in each group. The winners of each playoff round retained their intermediate status while the outright loser was relegated to the Junior championship for 2024. The draw for the Relegation Quarter-finals and Semi-Finals took place on 28 August 2023.
Bracket
Relegation quarter-finals
Relegation semi-finals
Relegation final
References