LADIES GAA Busy time for players and officials

Meath Ladies GAA officials will be busy this weekend with two finals scheduled for Saturday at Bective and two more on Sunday at Ashbourne.

Trim will take on Kilbride in the Junior C decider on Saturday at 1.30pm and that will be followed by the Junior B final at 5pm between Moynalvey and Clonard. The action on Sunday will also see a 1.30pm start for the JFC final between Skryne and Clann nanGael while at 5pm the IFC decider will feature Royal Gaels against Dee Rangers.

The senior semi-finals were played at the weekend with Dunboyne and Simonstown qualifying for the final on Saturday 19th September.

Dunboyne will be aiming to get their hands on the Meath Ladies SFC title following a good win against Oldcastle on Sunday.

The final will be a repeat of last year's decider after three-in-a-row-chasing Simonstown Gaels negotiated Donaghmore / Ashbourne in the last four.

Both teams will be happy with their wins and in both semi-finals Dunboyne and Simonstown’s strength and experience showed in the second half of each game.

After a tight opening half, they both pulled away from the opposition and will now be looking forward to the decider that is scheduled for Saturday 19th September.

It promises to be an exciting final with experience and footballing talent all over the field, and probably two of the most potent forwards in the county on each side.

Emma Duggan of Dunboyne and Kelsey Nesbitt of Simonstown will be key players.

Duggan scored 1-13 for Dunboyne in the win against Oldcastle and there is strength-in-depth in the team with the Wall sisters, Vikki and Sarah, Fiona O’Neill and Shelly Melia all crucial to the overall performance.

As well as Nesbitt, Simonstown can look to the experience of Jackie Shiels as chief playmaker backed up by Niamh and Aisling Sheridan, Aisling, Emma and Niamh Cassidy and a forward line that also boasts the talent of Kelly Harris, Lauren Grier and Tara Berigan.

PREDICTIONS

IFC

Royal Gaels v Dee Rangers: The McKeown Cup final features last year’s beaten finalist, Royal Gaels against Dee Rangers. Both teams finished top of their respective groups unbeaten. Royal Gaels won three out of three and Dee Rangers winning twice and were held to a draw in the other game.

In the last four, the Royal Gaels defeated Navan O’Mahonys, last year’s Meath and Leinster Junior champions in the last four, while Dee Rangers didn’t have it all their own way in their semi against Ratoath with only two points to spare at the finish.

Verdict - Royal Gaels.

JFC

Clann na nGael v Skryne: Skryne and Clann na nGael topped their respective groups and have an abundance of talent with former and current county players from u-16 grade through to senior. Skryne took on neighbours Walterstown in the semi-final and had a convincing win, but it took a 10-minute spell of dominance at the start of the second-half to assert their authority.

Clann na nGael had a battle on their hands against last year’s beaten finalists St Patrick's. This game went down to the final minutes where the Athboy side held on to a two-point lead.

Verdict - Clann na nGael.

JUNIOR B

Moynalvey v Clonard: Moynalvey had a convincing victory over Clonard in the group phase. Clonard won the Junior C title last year and continue to make tremendous progress.

They are two equally competitive teams and this will be a tight contest, Clonard's Louise Coyne is on the Meath minor panel and a number experienced Killyon camogie players also feature, but Moynalvey should be too strong.

Verdict - Moynalvey.

JUNIOR C

Trim v KIlbride: Trim and Kilbride competing for their first adult championship title and what a final this should be if the first round of the championship is anything to go by.

Only two points separated the sides on that occasion with Kilbride shading the verdict by 3-12 to 3-10. Trim had opened up a significant lead in that contest, but faded late on.

Both teams are evenly matched and points difference separated them in the final group standings.

Verdict - Trim.

The games will be streamed live on the Meath LGFA facebook page.