O'Mahonys look doomed to drop

SFC RELEGATION FINAL

There are no winners in a relegation play-off, only survivors, and next Friday night in Dunganny one of the great names of Meath GAA will suffer the ignominy of the drop when Navan O'Mahonys and Dunshaughlin face off in the SFC relegation final.

Winners of seven of the 21 Keegan Cup races this millennium O'Mahonys and Dunshaughlin have been the standard bearers for all others with title aspirations, but in recent years the conveyor belt of talent has slowed and both sides have lost key players. O'Mahonys have been here before. They were relegated from the senior championship in 2001, just as Dunshaughlin were winning the second of their three-in-a-row.

It took a couple of years for O'Mahonys to bounce back as they lost the 2002 IFC final to Ballivor before beating Carnaross the following year.

Back up at the top table O'Mahonys went on to win titles in 2008, '12, '14 and '15, but the players that drove that success are now either past their prime or retired and they now find themselves at the foothills again.

Dunshaughlin's decline hasn't enjoyed or endured the peaks and troughs that O'Mahonys have had. They have been steadily introducing young blood to their team and it has taken time for that fresh talent to bed in.

Their place in this relegation play-off is surprising.

Senior football has been a tough place for O'Mahonys for a few years and a spell in the lower ranks to give younger players coming through greater experience and opportunity to win big games might not be a bad thing.

When the sides met in the second round of the championship Dunshaughlin emerged with a 4-11 to 2-8 win and that is ominous.

Dunshaughlin look like a side with the greater potential to survive and become a great force at senior level in the short term. For O'Mahonys their journey looks likely to be completely different, and while relegation looks on the cards don't be surprised to see them in the senior ranks very quickly and, as usual, contending for the top honours.

SFC SEASON SO FAR

Round one - Navan O'Mahonys 1-11, Donaghmore/Ashbourne 0-13; Dunshaughlin 1-8, Ratoath 1-18.

Round two - Dunshaughlin 4-11, Navan O'Mahonys 2-8.

Round three - Navan O'Mahonys 0-10, Ratoath 1-15; Dunshaughlin 1-8, Donaghmore/Ashbourne 2-16.

Relegation play-off 1 - Navan O'Mahonys 1-7, Moynalvey 1-15; Dunshaughlin 1-9, Seneschalstown 1-11.

Relegation play-off 2 - Navan O'Mahonys 0-9, Curraha 0-12; Dunshaughlin 1-7, Ballinabrackey 1-13.