Ratoath and Dunboyne to earn final tickets

While we're not exactly going into the final furlong in the SFC just yet, the finishing post is fast looming up ahead - and next weekend we come down to two semi-finals with champions Ratoath up against Wolfe Tones while Dunboyne tackle Donaghmore/Ashbourne.

At the start of the campaign it's surely fair to say many observers of the local game would have chosen Ratoath and Dunboyne to be among the teams involved in the shake-up at this stage - but Wolfe Tones and Donaghmore/Ashbourne?

Both these teams have worked their way through their respective campaigns, quietly moving along the rails, producing big performances, as they needed to do, in quarter-final encounters.

Ratoath remain the team to beat. They are, after all, champions and it will take considerable heft and power to knock them off their perch.

Can Wolfe Tones do it?

One of the questions that will be answered over the weekend.

There are other issues, such as who is going to be relegated. Ballinabrackey, Curraha, Dunshaughlin and Navan O'Mahonys are all involved the relegation semi-finals but they'll want to avoid getting into the final in that particular category.

PREDICTIONS

Ratoath v Wolfe Tones: Who is going to stop the juggernaut that is Ratoath right now? The store of stats they have built up in this year's senior campaign are impressive indeed. They won their three group games with relative ease and then got the better of Summerhill in the quarter-finals - not that it was easy.

Brian Farrell's side had to draw on all their resources to progress - and arguably a demanding encounter was exactly what they needed at that point.

A character-testing, gut-wrenching, do-or-die contest to sharpen their minds and bodies.

It was a test they passed with three points to spare, 0-14 to 0-11. It will have greatly helped to prepare them for the test Wolfe Tones are going to present them with.

Rataoth's strengths are well known by now. They have a team bristling with talent and intent.

They also have bucketfuls of character as they displayed most dramatically in last year's final, failing to accept what looked like an inevitable defeat to Gaeil Colmcille, Joey Wallace's late, late goal eventually helping them snatch a dramatic win.

They have strength-in-depth. They have pace. They are well organised, guided by a gifted young manager, Brian Farrell.

Wolfe Tones will present them with plenty of problems. Under Michael McDermott, who of course managed the Clare senior football team, the Tones are a powerful presence.

They work extremely hard, forwards funnelling back, the backs pushing forward when the situation demands.

Players such as Oisin Martin and Niall O'Reilly have brought their individual games to another level.

The team is playing with a freshness and real sense of purpose. The Tones will ensure this is an intense struggle, but Ratoath have been here before and can prevail and stay on course for another final appearance. Verdict - Ratoath.

Dunboyne v Donaghmore/Ashbourne: According to all reports there was nothing freakish about Donaghmore/Ashbourne's defeat of Gaeil Colmcillle in the SFC quarter-final. Nothing lucky or fortunate about it. They were the better team, although now they must step up again.

One of their big assets is the return to form of Andrew Tormey who has had his share of difficulties with injuries in recent years.

He played a key role in the shock 1-15 to 1-11 win over Gaeil Colmcille with his goal helping them along the road to victory.

While Tormey's return to form is an obvious boost, Donaghmore/Ashbourne have other cards to produce.

Michael Deegan is a key player for them from general play and as a freetaker.

Thomas McGovern, Darragh McGovern and Bryan Menton are others who are part of an experienced group of players who know their way around. Players who can propel the team on to greater heights.

Dunboyne stand in the way - and they present a forbidding obstacle. At times in their 2-14 to 0-12 victory over St Colmcille's, Conor O'Donoghue's team looked mightily impressive particularly when they pressed forward; finding their colleagues with swift offloads and creating openings with the high tempo attacks.

Donal Lenihan is playing some superb football at the moment. He was in sparkling form against St Colmcille's.

Once he got the ball he usually made hay. O'Donoghue's side can defend stoutly and attack with intent. Even backs can finish as Gavin McCoy showed when he found the net against St Colmcille's.

So often in the past Dunboyne have promised, but not delivered. They can shade this contest and push on to the final. Verdict - Dunboyne.

RELEGATION PLAY-OFFS

Curraha v Navan O'Mahonys: The Navan men have somehow found themselves in a relegation scrap. They at least go into this game with a victory to their name having defeated Donaghmore/Ashbourne in their first Group A outing. They are also likely to have Stephen Bray back for this one after he sustained an injury a few weeks ago. They still rely on his nous and know-how.

Their scoring difference from all their games played so far is -24. Not great at all but it's still considerably better than Curraha's -44.

That indicates a vulnerable defence O'Mahonys can fully exploit with players like Dougie Dillon and Bray around.

Curraha have lost all their games and confidence and morale must be rock bottom. Verdict - Navan O'Mahonys.

Ballinabrackey v Dunshaughlin: Dunshaughlin had only one win in the group phase but it was a eyebrow-raising 4-11 to 2-8 destruction of Navan O'Mahonys.

They ended up narrowly losing out on a place in the knock-out phase; their cause undermined by inconsistency. They will need to be at their best to win this contest.

With a little more luck, a more favourable bounce of the ball, Ballinabrackey are another one of these teams that could have been contenders.

They beat Curraha and drew with Na Fianna yet still missed out on the knock-out stage.

Instead, they are in the relegation mire and looking for a win that will secure their status. The form suggests they have enough in their armoury to prevail here. Verdict - Ballinabrackey.

FIXTURE DETAILS

FRIDAY 22nd OCTOBER

Skryne - Navan O’Mahonys v Curraha, relegation play-off, 8pm, extra-time and finish.

SATURDAY 23rd OCTOBER

Navan - Donaghmore / Ashbourne v Dunboyne, semi-final, 4.30pm, et and finish.

SUNDAY 24th OCTOBER

Navan - Wolfe Tones v Ratoath, semi-final, extra-time and finish.

Trim -Ballinabrackey v Dunshaughlin, relegation play-off, 2.30pm, extra-time and finsh.