O'Mahonys fancied to edge tight decider

Replay might be needed to determine champions

The Meath IFC is often the most unpredictable and exciting out of the four football championships in Meath. While many might not have predicted at the start that Navan O’Mahonys and Duleek-Bellewstown would face off in the showdown, when you reflect on the championship as a whole, both clubs are very worthy of their place in the decider which will take place in Devenish Park on Saturday at 4pm.

In some ways, the pair of finalists are quite comparable. They both have strong ambitions to play senior football. Navan O’Mahonys are the most decorated team in the county and should be competing in the senior ranks while Duleek-Bellewstown have contested two IFC finals in recent years and can draw experience from those bouts as they look to seal their spot in the SFC next year.

Both teams have suffered a loss already in this year's IFC. They both took learnings from their respective defeats and improved. The two sides seemed to have timed their run to perfection and were both very impressive as they navigated through the competitive knock-out stages of the IFC.

Such is the unpredictable nature of the intermediate ranks, that it has actually been rare enough in recent years that the team that appears best suited and best set-up for promotion to the SFC actually win the IFC. However, very few will argue against that Navan O’Mahonys look primed to re-enter the senior ranks.

They have the talent, the squad depth, the resources and this year, under the guidance of Darren Clarke, they have shown enough stability and consistency to compete as a senior side should they win the final on Saturday.

Their underage structure has improved significantly and last week's victory in the MFC Div 1 final is more than enough proof of that. Most importantly, they are entering this final with their tails up and full of confidence after a very impressive and eye-catching semi-final display against St Patrick’s.

As solid and consistent that Navan O’Mahonys have been throughout their campaign, arguably, Duleek-Bellewstown have been more impressive because of the path that they have taken to the final. Despite Anthony Malone’s dismissal of this fact, it was plain to see that group D was by far the strongest group in this year's IFC.

Last year's beaten finalists Castletown were strong pre-tournament favourites and after Oldcastle got the better of them in round one, Joe Sheridan’s side was being discussed as major contenders for the title. Duleek-Bellewstown's win to knock out Oldcastle in the last round of the group stage and their recent victory over Castletown’s conquerors, Walterstown, is a very strong form line.

Duleek-Bellewstown are not the massive underdogs that Malone tried to present them as, but on paper Navan O’Mahonys are probably slight favourites.

The last three IFC finals have been very tight. Extra-time was required to separate Navan O’Mahonys and Meath Hill in 2024. Duleek-Bellewstwon themselves were only beaten a point by a strong Rathkenny side in 2023 and last year Kilbride only got the better of Castletown by the minimum margin.

Don’t be surprised if a replay is required this year to separate Navan O’Mahonys and Duleek-Bellewstown. It will definitely go right down to the wire.