Ratoath expected to come up trumps in Junior

Junior A is an intriguing championship. For the last two years, it has been won by teams that were relegated from intermediate the year before, and while Ratoath look likely to continue the trend, they won’t have it all their own way, writes Anna Gardiner.

Last year’s semi-finals were both decided by just one point and there are a number of teams who will be hungry for junior glory. In Group A, Ratoath will come up against Clann na nGael, Kilbride and Dunshaughlin’s B team, while St Pat’s, Moynalvey, Trim and Dunboyne’s second string will meet in Group B.

Ratoath's confidence will be high after their Div 3 success. Under new manager David Byrne, they will be determined to be playing Intermediate football in 2027 and they have the footballers to get them there.

Áine ‘Cookie’ Cooke scored a hat trick of goals in the league final and Fiona McNerney is reliable from placed-balls. Captain Rebecca McIntyre is sure to feature in the middle third, while Amy Gaffney can play anywhere. With Emma McGill (sister of Conor) home from Australia and Chloe Faherty back from ACL injury, Ratoath would be nailed-on favourites if they also had Katie Newe at their disposal.

St Pat’s will be hoping to atone for last year’s final defeat to St Colmcille’s. Brian White is their manager again this year and he and his team will have taken many learnings from the 2025 championship.

They were the only Junior team in Div 2, where they were runners-up in the final, but the experience of playing against Intermediate and Senior teams will stand to them. Although they lost to Ratoath in the JK Cup, the Stamullen side will absolutely feel that they can bring home the junior title.

Clann na nGael are another side that will have a major say in this competition. They were defeated by just one point by St Comcille’s in last year’s semi-final. After a forgettable league campaign, they reached a JK Shield semi-final where they let an eight point half-time advantage slip and again lost by one.

The team from Athboy made it to the junior final of the Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta in Kilcar this year, but failed come home with the win. Key players include Fiona Boylan in goals, Tessa Fleming and Hollie Macken in defence and Ella O’Toole and Ali Sherlock in attack. They are a young team and Meath minor captain Éabha Hanley has shown so far that youth is no disadvantage. Clonmellon’s Stephen Reilly is over Clann na nGael this year and he might finally get them over the line.

Beaten finalists in 2024, Trim lost out to Dunboyne by a point in last year’s quarter-final. They have had a tough 2026 so far, ending Div 3 at the foot of the table and failing to register a win in their JK group.

Only appointed in recent weeks, Skryne’s Declan Smyth will be hoping to turn Trim’s fortunes around.

Smyth will be familiar with plenty of the Trim girls having managed a number of them at Meath underage level.

Sinéad Murphy is captain and the dynamic inter-county mid-fielder will don the red and white along with Niamh Mahon, Sarah Caulfield (sister of Ciarán), Meg Ní Scólaí and the rest of the panel; several of whom are returning from injuries or time in America. Junior B champions in 2023, Trim could be capable of county honours again.

Kilbride will also be hoping to challenge for the Junior A crown. They have a score to settle after last year’s quarter-final which they lost by two to Clann na nGael.

In the forwards, Aideen Reilly and captain Megan Peters will pose threats while Emily Keenan and twins Serena and Laura Gavin will be resolute in defence. This is Steve McMullen’s third year in charge and he will know how to get the best out of his players.

Moynalvey were runners-up to Walterstown in 2023, but have been in relegation in both years since. They had a mixed performance in the league, but topped their group in the JK Shield. Goalie Aoibheann Corcoran has been in with the Meath seniors for a few seasons now and she and her club teammates could target a quarter-final this year.

Dunboyne and Dunshaughlin are the two second teams in the competition, but they will aim to be just as competitive at this grade as their first teams are at senior level.

Dunshaughlin won the Junior B championship last year, Dunboyne got to the semi-final in 2025, they have to be considered contenders and their strength in depth makes them a considerable force.

Ratoath might be frontrunners for this championship but victory is hard-fought at Junior A. If they show any signs of weakness, there are several clubs waiting to pounce.