New soccer season on the horizon
Local soccer clubs will be gearing for the start of the 2017 / 2018 North East Football League with the action set to kick-off with  midweek Shield game on Tuesday 8th and Wednesday 9th August.Â
The Kilmessan Shield is confined to the top teams with the Premier, Div 1 and Div 2 sides all vying for that trophy in either three or four-team groups.
The lower ranked teams in Div 3 and Div 4 will contest the Fiacre O'Neill Shield.
The first schedule of League fixtures for Sunday Divisions will begin on weekending 13th August for teams in Div 1, Div 3 and Div 4 where teams are not scheduled for Shield matches with Premier & Div 2 first round games on weekending 20th August.
All Saturday Divisions will be scheduled for first round action on weekend 26th August.
FIXTURES
TUE 8th / WED 9th AUGUST
KILMESSAN SHIELD
Navan Cosmos v Kentstown Rovers
OMP Utd v Enfield Celtic
Duleek v Trim TownÂ
Trim Celtic v Athboy Celtic
Muirhevnamor v Carrick Rovers
Newfoundwell v Johnstown
Black Bull v Navan Town
Bellurgan Utd v Rock Celtic
Kingscourt Harps v Kells/Blackwater
Boyne Harps v Square Utd
Quay Celtic v Ardee Celtic
O'NEILL SHIELD
Robinstown v Bohermeen
Park Celtic Summerhill v Kilmessan
Bay FC v Quay Athletic
Chord Celtic v Thatch FC
Kells Celtic v Rathmullen Celtic
Castle Villa v BJD Celtic
Glenmuir Utd v MoneymoreÂ
Skryne/Tara v Grove Rangers
 Electro Celtic v BMC Utd
LEAGUE GRADINGS
Premier - Bellurgan, Black Bull, Boyne Harps, Duleek, Muirhevnamor, Navan Cosmos, Newfoundwell, OMP Utd, Quay Celtic, Trim Celtic.
Div 1 - Ardee Celtic, Athboy Celtic, Carrick Rovers, Enfield Celtic, Johnstown, Kells/Blackwater, Kentstown Rovers, Kingscourt Harps, Navan Town, Rock Celtic, Square Utd, Trim Town.
Div 2 - Albion Rovers, Bailieboro Celtic, Hazel Lane, Oldcastle Utd, Parkvilla, Rathkenny Rovers, Redeemer Celtic, Rossin Rovers,Virginia Celtic, Woodview Celtic,Â
Div 3 - BJD Celtic, Bay, Donacarney, Glenmuir, Kells Celtic, Lourdes Celtic, Newtown Utd, Park Celtic Summerhill, Quay Athletic, Â Rathmullen, Skryne/Tara.
Div 4 - BMC Utd, Bohermeen Celtic, Castle Vila, Chord Celtic, Electro Celtic, Fordrew Rovers, Grove Rangers, Kilmessan, Moneymore, Robinstown, Slane Wanderers.
Premier Reserve - Ardee Celtic, Bellurgan Utd, Black Bull, Duleek, Johnstown, Kingscourt Harps, Navan Town, Newfoundwell, OMP Utd, Trim Celtic.
Premier A Reserve - Albion Rovers, Ardee Celtic 3rds, Carrick Rovers, Enfield Celtic, Hazel Lane, Kentstown Rovers, Navan Cosmos, Rathmullen Celtic, Rossin Rovers, Square Utd, Trim Town.
Premier B Reserve - Athboy Celtic, Bailieboro Celtic, BJD Celtic, Donacarney, Johnstown 3rds, Kells/Blackwater, Kilmessan, OMP 3rds, Park Celtic Summerhill, Robinstown, Torro Utd, Virginia Celtic.
For promotion/relegation play-offs the team finishing third from bottom in the higher grade shall have home advantage.
In the Premier Division the bottom two teams are liable for relegation while third from bottom will play-off with third highest placed team in Div 1
For Div 1, Div 2, Div 3 and Div 4 the top two teams are liable for promotion. The bottom two teams in Div 1 are liable for relegation while third from bottom will play-off with third highest placed team in Div 2.