St Vincent's and Clann na nGael leading the race for Junior honours
JFC PREVIEW Stacked field ready to capitalise on any slip-ups
Having lost eight JFC finals since the formation of the club, Dunsany got over the line in the 2024 Junior A decider against St Vincent’s last October to claim their first ever first team Championship. And so, the rat-race commences again in what has become one of the competitive and challenging grades in the county, writes Davy Rispin.
Dunsany, Kilbride, and Castletown in recent times have ended long waits for Championship silverware in this grade. Although most people feel when it comes to the crunch this time around that it will be a toss of a coin between last year’s beaten finalists St Vincent’s and recent Comórtas Peil winners and runners-up in Fl Div 3, Clann na nGael.
When it comes to the Peter McDermott Cup, you can never be too presumptuous though with the likes of Slane, Syddan, Dunderry and St Brigid’s no doubt licking their lips at a tilt at the contenders.
Having successfully maintained their Div 2 status (a terrific achievement for a junior side in the mix with senior and intermediate opposition), Paul McManus’ troops look well-placed to go that one step further than last year.
The Drumbaragh clubman's affectionately known as ‘Shaggy’, so don't be surprised if you hear him use that famous catchphrase "Zoinks!" throughout the course of their venture. However, in Adam Tuite, Conor Harford and Meath under-20 duo Conor O’Brien and Michael McIvor, they have some exceptionally talented players at their disposal.
Joining them in the second tier in 2026 will be Niall McLoughlin’s Clann na nGael who is in his third year of the project. A final and semi-final appearance in the last two attempts, could it be third time lucky for the Athboy/Raith Cairn side?
In Ben Corkery, Tomas Doyle and Eamon O Donnchadha they do not just have one of the most potent full-forward lines in the grade, they have one of the most potent in the county who will be crucial to their hopes alongside Cormac Smith, Sean Óg Tiernan and Daragh Griffin.
Syddan are a team that have flattered to deceive in recent times when it has come to the white heat of championship football. They are hoping that Castletown man Aidan Young can once again work the magic just like he did in 2022. The newly crowned Tailteann Cup winners will once again look to the Rowe brothers, Daire and Cormac, to fire them through, but Eoghan Dillon and Ben Blakemore can also be prolific scorers for the north Meath side.
This year marks 30 years since Dunderry were crowned Keegan Cup winners with talented players like Tommy Dowd, Barry Callaghan and Stephen O’Rourke starring for the men in black. Those days are long gone but there is a quiet optimism coming from the side on the outskirts of Trim and Navan that Leo Turley is building something. The emergence of Cathal Barron, Callum Bartley, Ciaran Sheridan and Cormac Liggan has been most timely although it may just be a little premature for the young guns, but stranger things have happened!
Waiting in the wings for Dunderry is a Ballinlough team bolstered by the return of Darren O’Higgins and the Shine twins Tom and Daire from county hurling commitments. Despite lingering doubts over Sean Geraghty, ‘The Lough’ with Oisin McDermott to the fore, will fancy their chances of causing a minor upset on the opening evening.
Fresh from their third consecutive league promotion to Div 3, can Slane better their semi-final appearance from last year? The 2023 Junior B winners will be sweating on the fitness of Meath under-20 stars Tadhg Martyn and Matthew Kealy as well as concerns over talisman Podge McGowan and Francis Marry ahead of their opener against Nobber.
Speaking of the Deesiders, fresh from their relegation from the Intermediate grade – they will be boosted by the return of Sean Meade from his travels. A lot will rest on the shoulders of Meade and Dale Larkin in what is an ultra-competitive Group A alongside Slane, St Vincent’s, and Syddan.
Before news of the departure of Cian McBride to the Downing’s club in Donegal, St Ultan’s would have been well-fancied to emerge from Group B with Dunderry. That hammer blow on the eve of the championship leaves Darren Fay’s men at a crossroads, their clash with Kilmainham will tell us a lot more about their potential destination.
Kilmainham do look destined for another scrap down near the bottom but despite the loss of Dylan Morgan to emigration they do still have real quality in the shape of player/manager Mickey Newman and the exciting young prospect that is Michael Hoey.
Despite facing off in the opening round, Clann na nGael and St Brigid’s do look the best placed to qualify from Group C at Carnaross’ and Moylagh’s expense.
The Ballinacree men have performed consistently well over the past few years with a nice balance in their ranks with the Blake brother’s, Cormac Browne, and Michael Flood all serious operators.
The loser of Carnaross and Moylagh will be the team dropping into the relegation play-off from Group C. The question is can Sean Reilly and Shane Gibney carry Peadar Byrne’s team over the line against a Carnaross side that have renewed themselves with the Emmet Daly and Donal Farrelly, the two men who guided them to Junior B glory last year?
If they can navigate their way through the dense fog, it ought to be Clann na nGael and St Vincent’s in the finale for the right to return to the Intermediate in 2026. Down the other end, it is impossible to call but could numbers and time be finally catching up with Kilmainham or Moylagh? Possibly.