Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels still the team to beat in senior

Several sides expected to go close as gap closes

Although the quarter and semi-finalists can be difficult to predict, for some time now, there has been an air of inevitability around the senior championship in Meath, writes Anna Gardiner.

In recent years, the competition has been dominated by two teams - St Peter’s Dunboyne and Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels.

These sides have contested the last four finals, and between them, have won the last six. Dunboyne completed three-in-a-row in 2022 while this year it is Royal Gaels who will be looking to go one step further than their neighbours as they bid for four successive titles.

Dunshaughlin are tipped to retain their crown, but after being pushed all the way by O’Mahonys in last year’s semi-final, it is apparent that the chasing pack are close to bridging the gap.

The new rules have thrown the door wide open and there will be a number of teams hoping to cause an upset.

All the same, Dunshaughlin are favourites for good reason. They have talented footballers all over the pitch and there are many senior and underage county stars in their ranks. Niamh Gallogly (Meath captain) and Niamh O’Sullivan (player-of-the-match in the 2022 All-Ireland final) as well as Karla Kealy, Meadhbh Byrne and Moyles sisters, Ella and Anna, are just a few names that will cause headaches for any opposition.

Claiming the FL Div 1 title was a strong start to 2026 for new manager Muiris Moran, and he will certainly be hoping to add championship honours to his team’s tally for the year.

Navan O’Mahonys are the team who got closest to Dunshaughlin last year and Colin O’Rourke and his players will relish the opportunity to have another crack at them in 2026.

After beating Royal Gaels in the 2025 league final, Navan lost out by just two points in the semi-final meeting. They have the Meath u-20 captains from the last two years - Sarah Maguire and Isabel Thorp - and All-Star goalie, Robyn Murray.

With these and Orlaith Mallon, Lauren Woods, Sarah Powderly, Ailbhe Leahy and Sligo’s Denise McGrath, the town side stand a great chance of making their first senior final and challenging for the county title.

Dunboyne have no shortage of experience in the latter stages of the championship and have featured in every senior final since 2019. Having lost players to travel and injuries, most notably the Wall sisters in Australia, Niall Gibbs will be relying on talented underage players.

Erin Mangan is one such youngster who will fill in beside Emma Duggan, Katie Birmingham and Waterford attacker Caragh McCarthy. Despite a mediocre league campaign, they went on to win the Jacksie Kiernan Cup. Dunboyne have shown that they are a team that can score two-pointers and they will prove dangerous opponents.

Another club that will be in the mix this year are 2025 intermediate champions, Skryne. Meath star, Ciara Smyth, is one of the county’s liveliest and most skilful forwards and alongside Roisín McManus, Fiona O’Rourke, Elizabeth Morland and Ellie Murphy, Skryne are a serious outfit. As his team return to senior ranks, manager Ronan Loftus will be hoping to channel the spirit of his native Mayo and catch the front-runners by surprise.

Finalists in 2021, Seneschalstown are the team, aside from Dunboyne and Dunshaughlin, who have most recently played in a senior decider. After finishing bottom of the Div 2 this year, they were unlucky not to progress in the JK Shield competition.

Young captain, Tara Traynor, is back in the yellow and blue after helping Coventry University to Lagan Cup victory and Roisín Commons will also be returning to her home club after a memorable year with Middle East GAA in the World Games. Conor Mooney will welcome them back into the fold along with county seniors Anna Wogan and goal-hungry Orla Finnegan. He can also depend on Meadhbh Hickey, the multi-talented Louise ‘Cheesy’ Coyle, the Monaghan twins and rising star Anna Donnelly to help right the wrongs of last year’s five-point defeat in the semi-final.

Oldcastle have found themselves in relegation for the last two years, but now have new life about them under Westmeath man, Jimmy Greville. They held their own in Div 1 of the league and were in the final of the Jacksie Kiernan Cup.

Captain Gabriele Krivinskaite will line out beside powerhouse Orla Smith, Chloe McNamee, Isabelle Delaney, Hannah Briody and a trio of county u-20s. A physical team, Oldcastle will be looking to have an impact on the 2026 championship.

Intermediate winners in 2024, Dee Rangers have struggled this last year. They were well beaten by O’Mahonys in the quarter-final in 2025, and registered just one win in this year’s league.

With the loss of Lisa Young, Orla Duff and others, the team, that is an amalgamation of Syddan and Drumconrath, will have their work cut out if they wish to progress from the group stages. New manager Stephen Moriarty will look to Orlaith Sheehy, Alanna Reilly, Lara O’Neill (sister of Adam and Dan), and two-pointer threat Meena McConnell to carry this Dee Rangers team.

Donaghmore/Ashbourne’s main goal for the year may well be to consolidate senior status. The Moors had just one win in the 2025 championship and finished in the bottom half of Div 2 this year.

With Aoibhin Cleary and Máire O’Shaughnessy absent, Chad Slattery has a tough job on his hands in his first year as manager. That said, one should never underestimate a side that includes Ciara Lawlor, Clodagh Millington, Ciara Doherty and Claire Mullen.

Matches start on Wednesday (tonight).

Dee Rangers, Navan O’Mahony’s, Oldcastle and Dunboyne will meet in Group A while in Group B, the reigning champions have been drawn alongside Seneschalstown, Donaghmore Ashbourne and Skryne. The race for the Joe Breen Cup is on.