Tones tipped to edge tight tussle
Replay could be on cards for first time since 2011
As if to exemplify the unpredictable nature of this year's SFC Donaghmore/Ashbourne will have home advantage when they take on Wolfe Tones in Sunday's eagerly anticipated Keegan Cup decider.
There are so many unexpected components in that opening statement that it all just adds to the confusion of trying to predict a winner with any degree of certainty.
Because of the redevelopment of Pairc Tailteann Ashbourne got the nod to host the senior final. There were whispers and concerns about what might happen if Donaghmore/Ashbourne were to get there, but they were quickly dismissed with the Moors not fancied to feature among the leading contenders.
Wolfe Tones were one of the top four teams to hold genuine credentials for overall success, but even then they were the outside of the four that included defending champions Summerhill, last year's runners-up Ratoath and the 2024 winner Dunshaughlin.
The FL Div 1 table didn't exactly suggest Wolfe Tones, who finished fourth, or Donaghmore/Ashbourne, who were one point outside of the relegation play-off zone, could be considered early contenders and although Donaghmore/Ashbourne had won the Feis Cup it still wasn't enough to make people sit up and take notice.
Even when the championship draw pitted Donaghmore/Ashbourne in the same group as Dunshaughlin and Gaeil Colmcille not many gave the Dublin border side much hope of advancing, especially after the lost to the Kells men in round one.
Wolfe Tones' group was much more straightforward and that was how it transpired with comfortable wins over Ballinabrackey, St Colmcille's and Seneschalstown, although the manner of conceding a couple of late goals against the Yellow Furze men did raise a few eyebrows.
For Donaghmore/Ashbourne, their opening round loss to Gaeil Colmcille wasn't as bad as it seemed. They were the better team, but just left their shooting boots at home and since then they have found their range impressively and the urgency of knockout football has suited them.
Donaghmore/Ashbourne have got progressively better as the championship has gone one. After a tough battle against Rathkenny in the quarter-final, Wolfe Tones produced their best performance of the year, indeed many years, when shrugging off the challenge of the champions in the semi-final.
Donaghmore/Ashbourne were far more convincing winners over Ratoath in their last four meeting than the five-point winning margin suggests.
They were awesome against Trim in the last eight and their other peak performance of the campaign was the stunning round two win over Dunshaughlin.
For both Wolfe Tones and Donaghmore/Ashbourne the stars appear to be aligning at just the right time, their runs have been measured to perfect, they both appear to be at the peak of their powers - but something has to give!
The chance to end 84 years of hurt since their last Meath SFC title in their home patch is a serious motivation for Donaghmore/Ashbourne.
The opportunity to reward legends of the club like Bryan Menton, Andy Tormey, Andy Colgan and Sean Curran with Keegan Cup medals in the closing stages of the career might never come again.
The drive and passion of young players who have seen the club make it to quarter-finals and penultimate hurdles and ultimately fall short is fever-pitch. There is no lacking in motivation for the Moors.
The same applies for the Tones, although their thirst for success has been quenched as recently as 2021, there is a sense that for all the talented, exceptional players they have produced over the last 20 years they should have more than two senior titles.
Since winning their first title in 2006, Wolfe Tones have been in four more finals, winning in '21 against St Peter's and losing in '24 to Dunshaughlin, against O'Mahonys in '12 and in '09 after a replay to Seneschalstown.
Their record of getting to the knockout stages since winning the IFC in 2004 is simply remarkable.
They reached the quarter-finals in their first year at senior and won the Keegan Cup at the second attempt.
After failing to make it out of the group in '07 they went on to reach two finals, four semi-finals and two quarter-finals in the next eight years.
Relegation play-offs in 2016 and 2019 sandwiched a semi-final appearance in '17 and a preliminary quarter-final in '18 and after they finished second in their group in the Covid campaign of 2020 they have since reached three finals, two semi-finals and a quarter-final in the next six campaigns - Mr Consistency.
Is it any wonder they feel aggrieved at not winning more Keegan Cups!
Donaghmore/Ashbourne will also feel that they have not fulfilled their potential since winning the IFC in '07.
Final defeats in '14 and '16 still hurt and they've knocked on the door on numerous occasions, getting knocked out in five quarter-finals and five semi-finals.
In their 19 years in the SFC, including this year, they have finished in the top two in their group 14 times and the semi-final win over Ratoath a couple of weeks ago was only their third win at that stage.
With so much history and ambition tying the teams, they are also well matched on the field.
Physically enormous, athletically slick, cohesively sound both Wolfe Tones and Donaghmore/Ashbourne's strength are the sum of their parts.
Donaghmore/Ashbourne's miserly defence has shipped just two goals in this year's championship, and one of those was a penalty.
They've conceded just 56 points in their five games while scoring 7-80, that's a scoring difference of 5-24.
Wolfe Tones have had issues defensively conceding 3-11 in consecutive games against St Colmcille's and Seneschalstown, but when they needed to be they have been able to shut the door.
There are so many prized assets on both sides. The Wolfe Tones half-forward line of Oisin Martin, Thomas O'Reilly and Caolan Ward is phenomenal, add in Saran O Fionnagain and the goal threat of Kyle Moran and you can see why they are such an attacking force.
Donaghmore/Ashbourne will look to their solid rearguard inspired by captain Evan Quinn, Sean Curran, Conor Carton to keep tabs on the Tones' threats, while going forward Sean Tyrell, Kevin Fenton, Darragh and Thomas McGovern, Andy Tormey and Zach Thornton all bring something different to worry the Wolfe Tones rearguard.
All that power probably means that possession is key and the midfield battle will be crucial.
Bryan Menton and Jamie Browne have been the midfield partnership of the championship so far, but Eoin Donegan and Adam O'Neill haven't put a foot wrong either.
Primary possession will be key and if Wolfe Tones can get enough of it then they might just have marginally more firepower to get them over the line, but don't be surprised if it needs two bites at the cherry.