Stage set for semi-final showdowns

Making a semi-final is no easy feat and the weekend’s hard-fought quarter-finals were certainly evidence of that as Navan O’Mahonys and Seneschalstown progressed to the penultimate stage of the SFC, writes Anna Gardiner.

Late goals for O’Mahony’s don’t do justice to the fight put up by Skryne who led for a spell in the second half and were right in the game until the final minutes.

Likewise, Oldcastle battled all the way against Seneschalstown who won by four.

These results set up semi-final pairings identical to last year’s with O’Mahonys to take on Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels in a bid to avenge the two-point defeat in 2025, while Seneschalstown get to have another crack at St Peter’s Dunboyne, who beat them by five at this stage last year.

The IFC semi-finals will see Walterstown play St Ultan’s and Boardsmill play St Colmcille’s.

The 2025 runners-up St Ultan’s beat Na Fianna in their quarter-final, while there was little separating St Colmcille’s and Summerhill in the other game with the Seasiders claiming victory from a late free. Boardsmill have already beaten St Colmcille’s in the group and they will be confident of reaching the final.

Walterstown lost to St Ultan’s by 15 points in last year’s quarter-final, but having topped Group A in 2026, they have strong momentum behind them.

In the JFC, the quarter-finals saw a comprehensive victory for St Pat’s over Clann na nGael. St Pat’s are into a semi-final against Ratoath, the team who are just down from Intermediate.

In the second quarter-final, Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels 2nds ground out a one-point win over Trim and they will now face Moynalvey in their semi-final - the team who relegated them from this grade in 2024.