Ratoath to open SFC defence against Dunshaughlin

Ironically Ratoath will open their bid to become the first side since Dunshaughlin in 2002 to complete a hat-trick of Keegan Cups with a clash against the former three-in-row champions.

Dunshaughlin escaped relegation from the SFC in 2020 with a play-off win over Nobber and they be up against it again this year following the championship draws which took place in Pairc Tailteann this afternoon.

If Dunshaughlin are to avoid another relegation battle they will have to find a positive result against either Ratoath, Donaghmore/Ashbourne or Navan O'Mahonys and that might be easier said than done.

Last year's beaten finalists Gaeil Colmcille also find themselves in a very tough group as they will have to battle Wolfe Tones, Simonstown and Moynalvey for one of the two qualification spots for the quarter-finals.

All four teams in Group B, Curraha, Na Fianna, St Colmcille's and SFC newcomers Ballinabrackey will fancy their chances of progressing, with no clear favourite to top the group.

Group D is also likely to be very competitive with Dunboyne and Summerhill marginal favourites top progress, but Skryne and Seneschalstown will be eager to rock the boat.

In the IFC last year's beaten finalists Trim have been handed a decent draw with the two sides that came up from Junior in 2018, Moylagh and Clann na nGael, and the team that were relegated from senior in 2019, Longwood standing in their way of a place in the quarter-finals.

With three teams to be relegated from the IFC this year the focus of a lot of the contenders will be to get off to a good start and stay out of the relegation dog fight.

Castletown will open their first JFC campaign with a game against Kilbride and they will be hot favourites to emerge from a group that includes Kilbride, Cortown and last year's beaten finalists St Vincent's.

Remarkably the draw for the SHC paired Trim and Ratoath in the opening round, which will take place just two weeks after the same sides are fixed to meet in the 2020 SHC final on Sunday 8th August.

The football championships will start from the weekend 4th July with the Premier FCs getting underway. The SFC, IFC and JFC are fixed to commence on the 15th August with the hurling starting a week later.

The SHC, IHC and JHC finals still have to be played and there is also a play-off necessary in the IHC between trim and Kilskyre/Moylagh to determine who plays in Group A.

CHAMPIONSHIP DRAWS

SFC

Group A: Navan O’Mahonys v Donaghmore/Ashbourne, Ratoath v Dunshaughlin.

Group B: Curraha v Na Fianna, St Colmcille’s v Ballinabrackey.

Group C: Gaeil Colmcille v Wolfe Tones, Simonstown v Moynalvey.

Group D: Seneschalstown v Summerhill, Skryne v Dunboyne

IFC

Group A: St Patrick’s v Bective, Nobber v Blackhall Gaels.

Group B: Trim v Moylagh, Clann na nGael v Longwood.

Group C: Syddan v Walterstown, Meath Hill v Oldcastle.

Group D: Ballivor v Drumbaragh, Kilmainham v Duleek/Bellewstown.

Group E: St Michael’s v Ballinlough, Dunderry v Rathkenny.

JFC

Group A: Castletown v Kilbride, St Vincent’s v Cortown

Group B: Boardsmill v Carnaross, Kilmainhamwood, St Brigid’s

Group C: Dunsany v St Ultan’s, Moynalty v Slane

Premier FC

Div 1: First round - Seneschalstown v Gaeil Colmcille; Trim v Skryne; Dunshaughlin v Dunboyne; Wolfe Tones v Donaghmore/Ashbourne.

Div 2: First round - St Patrick's v Dunboyne; St Colmcille's v Ratoath; Summerhill v Navan O'Mahonys; Simonstown v Na Fianna.

Div 3: First round - Clonard v Carnaross; Donaghmore/Ashbourne v Drumconrath; St Mary's v Dunsany; Nobber v Dunderry; Walterstown v Duleek/Bellewstown; Moynalvey bye.

Div 4: First round - Blackhall Gaels v St Michael's; Syddan v St Ultan's; Ballivor v Oldcastle; Clann na nGael v Seneschalstown.

Div 5: First round - Moynalty v Summerhill; Ballinabrackey v Skryne; St Paul's v Simonstown; St Colmcille's v Rathkenny.

Div 6: First round - Cortown v Meath Hill; Ballinlough v Castletown; Ratoath v Dunboyne; Dunshaughlin v Bective.

Div 7: First round - Donaghmore/Ashbourne v Navan O'Mahonys; St Vincent's v Gaeil Colmcille; Kilbride v Drumbaragh; Trim v Curraha; Boardsmill v Kilmainham.

Div 8: First round - Blackhall Gaels v Kilmainhamwood; Dunshaughlin v Walterstown; Slane v St Brigid's; Navan O'Mahonys v St Colmcille's; Ratoath v St Mary's.

SHC

Group A: Trim v Ratoath, Kildalkey v Longwood, Na Fianna v Kiltale

Group B: Clann na nGael v Dunboyne, Killyon v Kilmessan, Blackhall Gaels v Boardsmill or Wolfe Tones.

IHC

Group A: Rathmolyon v Kilskyre/Moylagh or Trim, Dunderry v Drumree Boardsmill or Wolfe Tones v O’Mahonys

Group B: Ratoath or Kilmessan v Gaeil Colmcille, Donaghmore/Ashbourne v Killyon, Kilskyre/Moylagh or Trim v Kildalkey.

JHC

Kiltale v Ratoath or Kilmessan, Dunderry or Boardsmill v Dunboyne, Na Fianna v O’Mahonys.

JHC 2

Group A: Trim v Donaghmore/Ashbourne, Drumree v Clann na nGael, Ratoath v Dunboyne.

Group B: Dunderry or Boardsmill v St Patrick’s, Wolfe Tones v Kildalkey, Rathmoylon a bye.