Nothing changes for Malone as Duleek-Bellewstown prepare to face aristocrats

In his second term as manager, Anthony Malone has guided Duleek-Bellewstown back to the IFC final for the third time in five years where they will face Navan O'Mahonys at Dunganny on Saturday.

In 2022 and 2023, the club were beaten finalists and in 2024 and 2025 they failed to make it out of the group.

This year though they have qualified for the decider where they will meet, in Malone’s words, ‘the aristocrats of Meath football'.

“We set out at the start of the year to play six games. We have played five and we have one left. We fully understand the enormity of the task," reflected Malone.

"Navan O’Mahonys are the most decorated club in the county. They are the aristocrats of Meath football. We are under no illusions as to what awaits us and I am sure we will go into it as massive underdogs.”

“We will prepare for Navan O’Mahonys like we do anyone else. It doesn't matter if they're a 15 or 20-point better team than they were last year. That's irrelevant to us. All that is relevant is the fact that we have to go out and play them and how we will go about our business.

"They are a big, big club with more Keegan Cups than anyone else, but it is no more different to prepare for them than it is any other club.

We will treat them with the same respect as we have everyone in the championship so far.”

Malone is happy with the way his team has progressed though the championship. Duleek-Bellewstown have not had any easy encounters as such but they have gone about their business well and improved with every victory.

“I think it has been a gradual progression all year. We were happy with the Corn na Boinne.

I don't think we finished too high in the league last year but we finished second this year and Simonstown pipped us in the semi-final," recalled the manager.

"We could see a steady progression there though. Ballivor are no soft touch, but we got over that one.

We put it up to Castletown and learned a lot from that game. We had to push on again against Oldcastle. Clann na nGael are junior champions that have come up with real ambition. Walterstown are one of the most decorated clubs in Meath so nothing has been easy.”

Malone was asked whether he initially felt daunted by the group that Duleek-Bellewstown were drawn in, as it appeared to be a tough one.

“Absolutely not. I think that would be disingenuous to any of the clubs and teams in the other groups.

I did hear it often said that there was a group of death, but as far as I know there were two teams coming out of every group," said Malone.

"So every other group was the same no matter who was in it. There is no such thing as a group of death.

We knew we had a serious task ahead of us with some really good teams, but we felt that if we worked hard, we would be a really good team. I don’t adhere to a chain of thought that states group D was the toughest group. They are all tough groups.”

One big bonus for Duleek-Bellewstown has been having the services of Eamonn Armstrong since the final round of the group. However, Malone asked that people not put too much pressure on the young AFL star.

“What we have to remember with Eamonn (Armstrong) is that he is on holiday. I think people need to avoid putting too much pressure on him.

He works in Australia, he is a young man and he has come home for a bit of a holiday. While he is home he is kicking ball with his friends. That is the way we are looking at it.”

And Malone will be hoping to send Armstrong back to work with an IFC medal in his back pocket.