Draws made for football championship knockout stages
Defending champions Wolfe Tones face the most daunting challenge yet in the defence of their crown as they take on Gaeil Colmcille in the SFC quarter-final after the draws for the knockout stages of the football championships were made at last night's Cop Board meeting.
The sides last met in the 2021 championship and couldn't be separated in the opening round as they played out a 1-7 each draw.
Red-hot favourites for the Keegan Cup Ratoath were drawn to face Moynalvey in the last eight, while IFC winners Trim will take on Na Fianna and in the final quarter-final Summerhill will tackle Skryne.
The draws for the semi-finals also took place on Monday night and if Wolfe Tones manage to negotiate Gaeil Colmcille they will continue the defence of their crown with a semi-final joust against either Summerhill or Skryne with the other semi-final to be contested between the winners of the Trim v Na Fianna game and Ratoath's quarter-final against Moynalvey.
In the relegation issues St Colmcille's will take on Curraha in one of four quarter-finals while St Peter's will face Navan O'Mahonys, Donaghmore/Ashbourne will tackle Seneschalstown and Ballinabrackey will play Simonstown.
The winners of those quarter-finals will all be safe, while the losers will have a second shot at redemption as Donaghmore/Ashbourne or Seneschalstown will take on St Colmcille's of Curraha and Ballinabrackey or Simonstown will play O'Mahonys or St Peter's.
The losers of the two semi-finals will then play in a relegation final to determine who will drop to the IFC for 2023.
The draws for the IFC quarter-finals also took place and favourites Dunshaughlin will clash with another big gun Rathkenny in the tie of the round. Nobber will face Walterstown, Oldcastle will play Dunderry and Duleek/Bellewstown will take on St Patrick's.
In the semi-finals the winners of the Dunshaughlin v Rathkenny tie will face Nobber or Walterstown with Duleek/Bellewstown or St Patrick's taking on Oldcastle or Dunderry.
With three team to be relegated from the IFC the the four teams that finished bottom of their respective groups were drawn to play each other with the losers of the two semi-finals relegated, while the two winners will have one more chance at survival when they meet in the final with the loser going down.
The relegation semi-finals will see Clann na nGael play Kilmainham and Drumbaragh take on St Vincent's.
The knockout stages of the JFC didn't need draws on Monday night as the process was predetermined and will see Syddan play Kilbride for the right to take on Castletown in one semi-final, while Ballinlough await the winners of Moylagh's quarter-final clash with Dunsany in the other semi-final.
The relegation scenario from JFC is the same as the IFC and the semi-final pairings are St Ultan's against Boardsmill and Carnaross v Moynalty.
The championship quarter-finals will all be played over the weekend beginning 16th September.
CHAMPIONSHIP DRAWS
SFC
Quarter-finals - Wolfe Tones v Gaeil Colmcille; Trim v Na Fianna; Summerhill v Skryne; Ratoath v Moynalvey.
Semi-finals - Wolfe Tones or Gaeil Colmcille v Summerhill or Skryne; Trim or Na Fianna v Ratoath or Moynalvey
Relegation quarter-finals - St Colmcille's v Curraha; Navan O’Mahonys v Dunboyne; Donaghmore/Ashbourne v Seneschalstown; Ballinabrackey v Simonstown
Relegation semi-finals - Donaghmore/Ashbourne or Seneschalstown v St Colmcille's or Curraha; Ballinabrackey or Simonstown v Navan O’Mahonys or Dunboyne.
IFC
Quarter-finals - Nobber v Walterstown; Oldcastle v Dunderry; Duleek/Bellewstown v St Patrick's; Dunshaughlin v Rathkenny.
Semi-finals - Dunshaughlin or Rathkenny v Nobber or Walterstown; Duleek/Bellewstown or St Patrick's v Oldcastle or Dunderry.
Relegation semi-finals - Clann na nGael v Kilmainham; Drumbaragh v St Vincent's.
Relegation final winner stays in IFC with other three teams relegated.
JFC
Quarter-finals - Syddan v Kilbride; Moylagh v Dunsany.
Semi-finals - Castletown v Syddan or Kilbride; Ballinlough v Moylagh or Dunsany.
Relegation semi-finals - St Ultan's v Boardsmill; Carnaross v Moynalty.
Relegation final winner stays in JFC with other three teams relegated.