Soccer season prepares for kick off
THERE will be a few new names among the teams participating in the Meath & District League (MDL) when they new season gets underway on the weekend starting the 17th August.
Clones United will be joined by Drogheda clubs Bia United, Moneymore and River Celtic while Mosney Utd have also been included in the list. The new applicants are all subject to meeting the required criteria.
One familiar name that will be missing in the forthcoming season is Rathkenny Rovers. They withdrew from the MDL during last season and have not re-applied for this term. Blackwater have joined forces with Kells Celtic to become Kells/Blackwater FC while Townspark Rangers have changed to Castlepollard.
The new season officially kicks off on Friday, 17th August with listed home fixtures for teams with floodlighting facilities while a full round of fixtures in Div. 3 and 4 will be scheduled for Saturday, 18th August.
The remainder of the programme (outstanding fixtures in the Premier, Div. 1 and Div. 2) will be listed for Sunday, 19th August.
All Reserve League fixtures will get underway on Saturday, 25th August. The MDL also point out that it maybe necessary to schedule mid-week fixtures for some teams in divisions 1, 2, 3, and 4 for Saturday, 21st and Sunday, 22nd August.
The MDL ratings are: Premier - Albion Rovers, Ardee Celtic, Carrick Rovers, Dromin Utd, Duleek, Glaslough Villa, Glenmuir Utd, Rock Celtic, Slane Wanderers, Square Utd, Torro Utd, Trim Celtic. Div. 1 - Bellurgan Utd, Botown Utd, Clones Town, Kells/Blackwater FC, Navan Cosmos, Navan Town, Newtown Utd, Oldcastle Utd, OMP Utd, St. Laurence's Gate, Termonfeckin, Trim Town/Kilmessan, Woodview Celtic. Div. 2 - Athboy Celtic, BMC Utd, Bohermeen Celtic, Castle Villa-C&M, Chord Celtic, Electro Celtic, Kells Celtic, Kentstown Rovers, Kingscourt Harps, Longwood, Marsh Celtic, Northside Blues, Skryne/Tara. Div. 3 - Agher Park, Black Bull, Boyne Harps, Castlepollard, Donacarney, Fordrew Rovers, Glen Rangers, Johnstown, Laytown Utd, Rossin Rovers, Sheelin Celtic, Summerhill Celtic. Div. 4 - Abbey Celtic, Bailieboro Celtic, Beaufort Wanderers, Bia Utd, Clonmagadden, Enfield Celtic, Grove Rangers, Knightsbrook, Moneymore, Mosney Utd, Navan AFC, River Celtic, Virginia Celtic.
There are 13 teams in Div. 2 and Div. 3 and the bottom three teams at the end of the season are liable for relegation.
RESERVE LEAGUES
Premier - Albion Rovers, Ardee Celtic, Carrick Rovers, Duleek, Glaslough Villa, Glenmuir, Marsh Celtic, Rock Celtic, Square Utd, Trim Celtic. A Reserve - Ardee Celtic 3rds, Bellurgan Utd, Botown Utd, Kentstown, Navan Cosmos, Navan Town, Newtown Utd, Slane Wanderers, Torro Utd, Trim Town/Kilmessan. B Reserve - Black Bull, Bohermeen Celtic, Castle Villa/C&M, Electro Celtic, Kingscourt Harps, Longwood, Oldcastle Utd, OMP Utd, Skryne/Tara, Trim Celtic 3rds. C Reserve - Agher Park, Athboy Celtic, BMC Utd, Enfield Celtic, Johnstown, Kells/Blackwater, Kingscourt 3rds, Laytown Utd, Rossin Rovers, St. Laurence's.