Tough opener for holders in race for Keegan Cup

Defending Keegan Cup champions Summerhill will open their defence of the crown against St Patrick's it emerged at Monday night's eagerly anticipated first round draws at Áras Táilteann. Conducted by popular LMFM sports editor Brendan Cummins, the 2012 Keegan Cup will throw-in on Saturday and Sunday 14th and 15th April next with a new sponsor. This year's Meath SFC will be sponsored by Hoganstand.com as the Kells-based business take over the reins from Meath Farm Machinery. Summerhill will face a stern examination of their title credentials in what turned out to be a tough group that also includes Nobber, Duleek/Bellewstown, Moynalvey and Donaghmore/Ashbourne. Summerhill's 2011-winning captain Tony McDonnell suggested that everyone locally would be looking forward to the start of the championship, especially the game against local rivals Moynalvey. "Moynalvey will provide tough opposition, but it's proably what all the supporters, from both clubs, were hoping for and it should be a great game," he stated. "The draw we got is not too bad, but it's still a tough group, the Meath championship is tough anyway, there will be no easy games. "Since Dunshaughlin's success about 10 years ago, no team has managed to retain the title, but we will be trying to rectify that. "We won't be looking past the first game against St Patrick's, we've played them over the past few years and we know they will give us a tough game. "Our aim will be to win the first game and then move on to the next one, we will just take every game as it comes and hopefully we will make it to the knock-out stages. Skryne, who won the title in 2010, will face Simonstown Gaels in their first game while there will also be a lot of interest when Dunboyne face Dunshaughlin in Group B. Wolfe Tones and Walterstown complete the line up in the second six-team group. None of the teams in the SFC will have to worry about relegation this year as the Co Committee have decided to increase the number of teams to 18 for 2013 and this year's contestants will be joined by the IFC champions next year in three groups of six. "This development will eliminate byes," stated Cummins. The IFC will be sponsored by Meade Potato Company again and like the SFC, the intermediate grade will be a relegation-free zone as a transformation to 18 teams by 2014 is completed. Trim, relegated from the senior grade last year, will be expected to make a big impact in the IFC with John Andrews at the helm and Brendan Murphy in charge of the training. Trim will face Gaeil Colmcille in the first round. Ballinabrackey, who won the JFC in 2010, will tackle Castletown first and with a new manager at the helm will be eager to make a good start. Emmet McDonnell has taken over the reins from Pascal Kellaghan who has taken charge of the Offaly u-21 team. "I'm only there a few weeks at this stage, but they are a group of honest lads and we are really looking forward to the championship," he stated. "When you have players that are honest you always have a chance, but we have a few injury concerns at the moment. "Seamus Curry and Nicky Judge are battling for full fitness and they will be hugely important to us. "If we can put out a full strength side we will have a chance of qualifying, but it's a very tight championship," he added. There was good news for the teams in the JFC with the finalists this year both set to be promoted. Ratoath and Kilmainham will be contenders for the JFC title and were kept apart in the draw. Dunsany are placed in a group that does not contain any second teams and will face Moylagh in the opening round. Defending Jubilee Cup champions Kildalkey will face another stern test in a group that contains Trim, Navan O'Mahonys, Kilmessan, Kiltale and Na Fianna. Kildalkey chairman Brendan Harmon was realistic in his assessment of his club's chances of making it four-in-a-row. "It's a tough group for everyone, we will have to be at our best, we found it difficult last year and this year won't be any different," he commented. "We were lucky to beat Trim while Kilmessan was always going to be a battle anyway, then we had O'Mahonys in the final, we will have to do it all again this year. "There is still a great hunger for success and it won't make any difference that we are going for four-in-a-row, it will be as difficult to win this year as it was in 2009. "We will be giving it our best shot, but we will have to be at our best to have any chance," he concluded.