Dunboyne on course to secure back-to-back crowns

LGFA FINALS PREVIEWS

History will be created at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday when the Meath Ladies SFC final between Dunboyne and Seneschalstown will held as part of a double-header with the Meath's SFC final for the first time.

There is sure to be an electric atmosphere at the Navan venue as Dunboyne will have teams in both finals and it is expected that the ladies team will get the day off to a successful start for the St Peter's club.

Seneschalstown's return to the Ladies SFC final is something of a surprise to those outside of the club.

After a couple of decades of near total dominance it had appeared their powers were on the wane, but they now find themselves back in the final and ready to challenge the red-hot favourites.

Seneschalstown were the undisputed Queens of Meath Ladies football from the turn of the millennium, winning 13 SFC crowns between 2000 and 2014, but in recent years other clubs like Oldcastle, Simonstown and more recently Dunboyne have risen to the top.

Dunboyne's rise has been spectacular.

In 2015 they won the Meath JFC crown and went on to add the All-Ireland club title. Two years later they claimed the Meath IFC and emulated their junior achievement by winning that All-Ireland Club title too.

Last year their senior dream came through when they won the Meath SFC title beating two-in-a-row champions Simonstown and now they themselves are on track to secure back-to-back titles.

Seneschalstown have their obvious defensive strengths. They didn't concede a goal in their opening two games and while they did ship 3-13 in their semi-final they proved that they can quieten the loudest of attacks when restricting Royal Gaels to just 1-6.

However, trying to marshal players like Emma Duggan, Vikki Wall and Fiona O'Neill will be a totally different prospect and while Seneschalstown have their own attacking threats, especially in Stacey Grimes, it is hard to see anything other than a Dunboyne victory.

SFC PATHS TO THE FINAL

Round one - Dunboyne 4-24, Oldcastle 2-6; Seneschalstown 1-15, Boardsmill 0-9.

Round two - Dunboyne 4-12, Donaghmore/Ashbourne 1-8; Seneschalstown 0-12, Simonstown 0-12.

Round three - Dunboyne 6-31, St Michael's 1-4; Seneschalstown 1-8, Royal Gaels 1-6.

Semi-final - Dunboyne 2-19, Royal Gaels 2-5; Seneschalstown 3-18, Oldcastle 3-13 .

IFC FINAL

If the semi-finals are anything to go by then we are in for a classic in the IFC decider as Navan O'Mahonys take on St Colmcille's.

O'Mahonys needed a free-kick shootout to get the better of Ratoath after the sides finished level in their last four clash, while St Colmcille's also needed extra-time to see off Dee Rangers in their semi-final.

The only real line of form to suggest a winner from this final is that O'Mahonys had 13 points to spare when they faced Dee Rangers in the group stage, but St Colmcille's form had improved as the year has gone on and their 13-point win over Ratoath proved that they are also capable.

Both sides like scoring goals. O'Mahonys scored five goals in three of their games and a total of 16 from their four games, while St Colmcille's hit five in a game twice and managed 14 in their four games.

It really is a toss of a coin to determine this one and don't be surprised it if takes extra-time to separate them with O'Mahonys JFC championship winning experience maybe giving them the slight edge.

IFC PATHS TO THE FINAL

Round one - Navan O'Mahonys 5-12, Dee Rangers 3-5; St Colmcille's 2-5, Na Fianna 1-15.

Round two - Navan O'Mahonys 5-11, Summerhill 5-4; St Colmcille's 5-14, Ratoath 2-10.

Round three - Navan O'Mahonys 5-17, Dunsany 0-4; St Colmcille's 5-12, Clann na nGael 4-5.

Semi-final - Navan O'Mahonys 1-17, Ratoath 3-11, after extra-time, O'Mahonys won 4-2 on free-kick shootout ; St Colmcille's 2-14, Dee Rangers 3-8, after extra-time.

JFC FINAL

Just like the IFC final this JFC decider is also very tough to call.

Skryne were everyone's pre-championship favourites to claim the crown, but St Patrick's have been explosive throughout the campaign and are more than capable of landing a shock.

Scoring 18 goals in their four games proves Skryne's scoring threat and they've also been defensively conceding just four goals in their run to the final.

However, two of those goals were conceded against their final opponents when they met in round three of the championship and St Pat's have proved they are just as impressive in front of the target, scoring 15 goals in their four games.

Again, it will be a tight contest, but Skryne should replicate the win they enjoyed over St Pat's in the group stage, but it is sure to be just as tight against.

JFC PATHS TO THE FINAL

Round one - Skryne 2-13, St Ultan's 1-8; St Patrick's 4-12, Walterstown 3-9.

Round two - Skryne 6-15, Walterstown 0-10; St Patrick's 6-13, St Ultan's 2-5 .

Round three - Skryne 3-10, St Patrick's 2-12.

Semi-final - Skryne 7-19, Moynalvey 1-15; St Patrick's 3-8, Duleek/Bellewstown 2-7.