2017 Meath Senior Football Championship


The 2017 Meath Senior Football Championship is the 125th edition of the Meath GAA's premier club Gaelic football tournament for senior clubs in County Meath, Ireland. Eighteen teams compete, with the winner representing Meath in the Leinster Senior Club Football Championship. The championship starts with a group stage and then progresses to a knock out stage.
Simonstown Gaels were the defending champions after they defeated Donaghmore/Ashbourne in the 2016 final, and they successfully defended their title to claim their 2nd ever crown when defeating Summerhill in the final in Pairc Tailteann by 2-9 to 0-7 on 29 October 2017. Padraig McKeever raised the Keegan Cup for the North Navan side and also claimed the "Man-of-the-Match" award for the second year in succession.
This was St. Colmcille's return to the top flight after a 20 year exodus since relegation in 1996, due to claiming the 2016 Meath Intermediate Football Championship title as well as a Leinster IFC title and an All-Ireland IFC runners-up spot.
This year saw the 10th "Navan El Classico" take place in the SFC as Simonstown Gaels defeated Navan O'Mahonys in the group stage by 0-12 to 0-7. Their current overall head-to-head score is 5-4 in favour of O'Mahonys and 1 draw.
The draw for the group stages of the championship were made on 6 March 2017 with the games commencing on the weekend of 20 May 2017.
Duleek/Bellewstown were relegated to the I.F.C. for the first time in since being established in 2008 after failing to win a match all season, and thus ended their 10 season tenure in the top flight.
The semi-final between Simonstown Gaels and Wolfe Tones was the first Meath championship match to be broadcast live by Eir Sport, which the second semi-final between Summerhill and Gaeil Colmcille was the first senior match to be broadcast live on the newly developed Meath GAA App.

Team Changes

The following teams have changed division since the 2016 championship season.

To S.F.C.

Promoted from I.F.C.
Relegated to I.F.C.
The teams taking part in the 2017 Meath Senior Football Championship are:
ClubLocationPre C'ship Odds2016 Championship Position2017 Championship Position
Blackhall GaelsBatterstown & Kilcloon40/1Non QualifierRelegation Playoff
Donaghmore/AshbourneAshbourne6/1FinalistNon Qualifier
Duleek/BellewstownBellewstown & Duleek66/1Relegation PlayoffRelegated
DunshaughlinDunshaughlin & Drumree25/1Preliminary Quarter-FinalistNon Qualifier
Gaeil ColmcilleKells16/1Semi FinalistSemi Finalist
MoynalveyMoynalvey & Kiltale10/1Non QualifierQuarter-Finalist
Na FiannaEnfield & Baconstown16/1Quarter-FinalistPreliminary Quarter-Finalist
Navan O'MahonysNavan7/2Non QualifierQuarter-Finalist
RathkennyRathkenny & Stackallan50/1Non QualifierNon Qualifier
RatoathRatoath6/1Non QualifierQuarter-Finalist
SeneschalstownKentstown & Yellow Furze28/1Quarter-FinalistNon Qualifier
Simonstown GaelsNavan10/1ChampionsChampions
SkryneSkryne & Tara16/1Semi-FinalistRelegation Playoff
St. Patrick'sGormanston, Julianstown & Stamullen50/1Non QualifierNon Qualifier
St. Colmcille'sBettystown, Donacarney, Laytown & Mornington25/1Intermediate ChampionsNon Qualifier
St. Peter's DunboyneDunboyne7/2Quarter-FinalistQuarter-Finalist
SummerhillSummerhill10/1Quarter-FinalistFinalist
Wolfe TonesKilberry, Gibbstown, Oristown & Wilkinstown12/1Relegation PlayoffSemi Finalist

Group stage

There are three groups of six teams 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 6 March 2017 with the games commencing on the weekend of 20 May 2017.

Group A

Team
Summerhill54108461+238
Gaeil Colmcille54107557+188
Wolfe Tones53119265+277
Donaghmore/Ashbourne51319977+225
Rathkenny51405884-262
Duleek/Bellewstown505048112-640

Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Team
Simonstown Gaels55009155+3610
Moynalvey54109885+138
Navan O'Mahonys53207667+96
Seneschalstown52307596-214
St. Colmcille's50418089-91
Blackhall Gaels50416997-281

Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Team
Ratoath55008857+3110
St. Peter's Dunboyne540110075+258
Na Fianna51227484-104
St Patrick's52307380-74
Dunshaughlin51316472-83
Skryne50416293-311

Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
The winners and runners up of the three groups and the third placed team of Group A automatically qualify for the quarter finals. The third placed teams in Groups B and C play off to determine the team that completes the quarter final lineup.

Preliminary Quarter-Final

Quarter-Finals

Semi-Finals

Final

Relegation Play-Off Group

The three bottom teams from each group enter the relegation play-off group and play each other in a round robin basis.
The team with the worst record after two matches will be relegated to the 2018 Intermediate Championship.
Duleek/Bellewstown lost both round robin matches and were relegated meaning the final match between Skryne and Blackhall Gaels was not required.
Team
Skryne11002513+122
Blackhall Gaels11001612+42
Duleek/Bellewstown20202541-160

Quarter Final:
Semi Final: