2018 Meath Senior Football Championship


The 2018 Meath Senior Football Championship is the 126th 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 Summerhill in the 2017 final to claim a "2-in-a-row" of titles.
This was Curraha's debut in the top flight after claiming the 2017 Meath Intermediate Football Championship. Their 35 point loss to Summerhill was the largest losing margin of any team in a S.F.C. match since 1996, when St. Colmcille's lost by a 44 point margin to Kilmainhamwood.
The draw for the group stages of the championship were made on 5 March 2018 with the games commencing on the weekend of 15 April 2018.
Blackhall Gaels were relegated to the Intermediate championship for 2019 after 17 years in the top-flight, including a S.F.C. title in 2003.

Team Changes

The following teams have changed division since the 2017 championship season.

To S.F.C.

Promoted from I.F.C.
Relegated to I.F.C.
The teams taking part in the 2018 Meath Senior Football Championship are:
ClubLocationManagementPre C'ship Odds2017 Championship Position2018 Championship Position
Blackhall GaelsBatterstown & KilcloonLiam Keane80/1Relegation PlayoffRelegated to IFC
CurrahaCurrahaStephen Morgan50/1Intermediate ChampionsRelegation Playoff
Donaghmore/AshbourneAshbourneGabriel Brannigan13/2Non QualifierSemi Finalist
DunshaughlinDunshaughlin & DrumreeAnthony Moyles50/1Non QualifierNon Qualifier
Gaeil ColmcilleKellsLar Wall16/1Semi FinalistQuarter Finalist
MoynalveyMoynalvey & KiltaleDarren Fay12/1Quarter-FinalistNon Qualifier
Na FiannaEnfield & BaconstownSeán O'Dea33/1Preliminary Quarter-FinalistNon Qualifier
Navan O'MahonysNavanKevin Reilly13/2Quarter-FinalistNon Qualifier
RathkennyRathkenny & StackallanDiarmuid McCarthy66/1Non QualifierNon Qualifier
RatoathRatoathFergal Power5/1Quarter-FinalistQuarter Finalist
SeneschalstownKentstown & Yellow FurzeDamien Sheridan28/1Non QualifierNon Qualifier
Simonstown GaelsNavanCiaran Kenny9/2ChampionsSemi Finalist
SkryneSkryne & TaraJames Reddy10/1Relegation PlayoffQuarter Finalist
St. Patrick'sGormanston, Julianstown & StamullenNiall Russell66/1Non QualifierRelegation Playoff
St. Colmcille'sBettystown, Donacarney, Laytown & MorningtonDes Lane50/1Non QualifierQuarter Finalist
St. Peter's DunboyneDunboyneCiaran Byrne4/1Quarter-FinalistChampions
SummerhillSummerhillJohn Lyons11/2FinalistFinalist
Wolfe TonesKilberry, Gibbstown, Oristown & WilkinstownTony Kearney11/1Semi FinalistPreliminary Quarter-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
St. Peter's Dunboyne54018058+229
Simonstown Gaels53118963+267
Donaghmore/Ashbourne53117965+147
Seneschalstown52307878+04
Dunshaughlin51317179-83
Blackhall Gaels505050104-540

Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Team
Summerhill541012064+568
Skryne54109673+238
Gaeil Colmcille532010461+436
Na Fianna523068102-344
Navan O'Mahonys51317289-173
Curraha504151122-711

Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Team
Ratoath54019664+329
St. Colmcille's53206973-46
Wolfe Tones53207558+176
Moynalvey52217079-95
Rathkenny51315064-143
St Patrick's50415578-231

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 2019 Intermediate Championship.
Team
St. Patrick's11001510+52
Curraha11001512+32
Blackhall Gaels20202230-80

Round 1:
Quarter Final: