Trim Celtic set for trip to Virginia in NEFL opener

The North East Football League season will kick-off for a shortened 2020 campaign with two games on Thursday 6th August.

The remaining series of games will be played over Friday, Saturday and Sunday and will include a new cup competition, but no leagues will be contested.

Trim Celtic face a trip into Cavan to tackle Virginia while local rivals OMP Utd and Kentstown will go head-to-head in what should be a thriller.

The final positions from the end of last season as at December 2019 will determine the start up status for 2021 with that kick-off scheduled for next March.

The 2020 fixture schedule will continue until the end of November and, if necessary, into December with seeded knock-out competitions starting with a qualification process from selected groups.

An extra open cup competition, the 40-year Commemorative Cup, (1980 - 2020) is open to all club first teams (optional) irrespective of grading.

The Reserve Cup will also be played as normal (also optional) and the closing date for entries for both is this Friday 31st July.

2020 COMPETITION FORMAT

The Tully Bookmakers Challenge Cup will be the top seeded competition followed by the Kilmessan Shield and Fitzsimons Cup.

Teams in Division 3 and Division 4 will be eligible for the Gerry Reilly Memorial Cup, Fiacre O'Neill Shield and Jimmy Mangan Cup.

QUALIFICATION PROCESS

TULLY BOOKMAKERS CHALLENGE CUP (top two in each Group)

Quarter finals - 1A v 2B; 1B v 2A; IC v 2D; 1D v 2C.

KILMESSAN SHIELD (third and fourth placed teams)

Quarter finals - 3A v 4B; 3B v 4A; 3C v 4D; 3D v 4C;

FITZSIMONS CUP (fifth and sixth)

Quarter-finals - 5A v 6B; 5B v 6A; 5C v 6D; 5D v 6C.

GERRY REILLY MEMORIAL CUP

Quarter-finals - 1E v 2F; 1F v 2E; 1G v 2H; 1H v 2G.

FIACRE O'NEILL SHIELD

Quarter-finals - 3E v 4F; 3F v 4E; 3G v 4H; 3H v 4G.

JIMMY MANGAN CUP (new)

Quarter-finals - 5E v 6F; 5F v 6E; 5G v 6H; 5H v 6G.

Teams finishing outside of sixth position in groups do not qualify.

FIXTURES

THURSDAY 6th AUGUST (8PM)

Group seed 1-3 - Boyne Harps v Enfield, United Park; Johnstown v Athboy, MDL.

FRIDAY 7th AUGUST (8PM)

Group seed 1-3 - Ardee Celtic v Muirhevna Mor; Drogheda Town v Bailieboro; Kingscourt v Newtown; Rock Celtic v Redeemer Celtic,

Group seed 4-6 - Albion Rovers 2nds v Park Celtic Summerhill; Navan Town Cosmos v Virginia 2nds, MDL; Millmount v Rossin, Drogheda DIFE Astro, 7.30pm

SATURDAY 8th AUGUST (3PM)

Group seed 4-6 - Athboy Celtic 2nds v BJD Celtic; Glenmuir 2nds v Oldcastle 2nds; Kells Celtic 2nds v Fordrew; Newtown 2nds v Robinstown 2nds; Square 2nds v Castle Villa; Enfield 2nds v Albion 3rds; Johnstown 2nds v Parkvilla 2nds, MDL; OMP 2nds v Lourdes Celtic.

SUNDAY 9th AUGUST (11.15AM) unless stated

Group seed 1-3 - Bellurgan v Glenmuir; Torro v Bay; Carrick v Square Utd; Kentstown Rovers v OMP Utd; Oldcastle v Trim Celtic 2nds; Virginia v Trim Celtic; Chord Celtic v Parkvilla, Drogheda DIFE Astro, 11.30am; Donacarney v Trim Town, 2pm; Duleek v Kells Celtic, 2pm.

Group seed 4-6 - Electro v Ardee 2nds; Slane v Carrick 2nds; Bohermeen v Kentstown Rovers 2nds; Kilmessan v Donacarney 2nds, MDL; Robinstown v Abbey Celtic.

Seeding key: 1 - Tully Bookmakers Cup; 2 - Kilmessan Shield; 3 - Fitzsimons Cup; 4 - Gerry Reilly Memorial Cup; 5 - Fiacre O’Neill Memorial Shield; 6 - Jimmy Mangan Cup.

Home team must text result to Fixtures' Secretary Declan Jordan at (086) 4070679 within one hour of final whistle, fines will be imposed for non-compliance.

PRO GUIDANCE

Club PROs are invoted to submit match details to Meath Chronicle - sports@meathchronicle.ie

We will endeavour to select a team of the week from reports submitted. Inclusion in a team of the week will qualify for consideration for team of the season next December.