Championship draw crux resolved

Meath GAA Co Board vice-chairman Peter O'Halloran outlined the details regarding the revised format for the JFC and Junior B FC competitions following a directive from Croke Park in relation to queries from Simonstown Gaels.

The agreed format now for the 2017 JFC and Junior B FC championship draws were discussed at tonight's Meath GAA Co Board meeting in Kiltale and following some lengthy discussions the following proposal was ratified.

There will be two groups of six in the JFC that will comprise the first teams as already designated from the original draws with both Moynalty and Clonard retaining their JFC status.

The third group (Group C) will comprise an additional two second teams, Navan O'Mahonys and Simonstown.

The top three teams in each group will qualify for the knock-out phase with a preliminary quarter final to get the numbers down to eight.

The Junior B FC will be reduced to 16 teams for this year due to the restoration of Navan O'Mahonys and Simonstown to the JFC grade. There will be one group of six and two gropus of five.

Croke Park advised Meath GAA Co Board to differentiate between regulations and bye laws.

It was also outlined that as Moynalty and Clonard had been re-graded upwards (from Junior B to JFC) they could not now be re-graded downwards and would have to remain in the JFC for this year.

Group C was drawn again and the new first round pairings were: Dunshaughlin v Seneschalstown; Skryne v Navan O'Mahonys; Dunboyne v Wolfe Tones; Summerhill v Simonstown Gaels.

JFC
A - Clonard v Moynalty; Meath Hill v Drumconrath; Clann na nGael v Cortown.
B - Dunsany v St Brigid's; Moylagh v Carnaross; Kilmainhamwood v St Vincent's.
C - Dunshaughlin v Seneschalstown; Skryne v Navan O'Mahonys; Dunboyne v Wolfe Tones; Summerhill v Simonstown Gaels.
JUNIOR B
A - Dunderry v Boardsmill; Slane v St Mary's; St Paul's v Kilbride.
B - Gaeil Colmcille v Dunboyne; Donaghmore / Ashbourne v Na Fianna; Trim (bye).
C - St Patrick's v St Colmcille's; Walterstown v Nobber; Moynalvey (bye).