One of the most exciting football championships ready to rock ‘n’ roll

It will be 47 days since Meath exited the All-Ireland SFC race having surrendered a nine-point lead early in the second-half against Mayo, by the time the club football championships finally get underway, and while the wait has been unnecessary the excitement is building across all grades.

If this year's All-Ireland Championship has proved anything it is that everything is possible.

Shock winners, big guns falling, great football, thrilling games, wipeouts, poor refereeing calls, bad decisions by players, all the cards are on the table and this new era of modern football is probably one of the most exciting.

Gone are the days of just two or three serious contenders in the race for each of the Keegan Cup, Mattie McDonnell Cup or the Peter McDermott Cup.

There are genuinely up to 10 teams in both the SFC and IFC that will feel they have serious aspirations, while the other six are more than capable of causing a shock.

In the JFC and Junior B FC the fields are a little smaller, but the competition no less in intense as the hunt for priceless silverware and promotion to a higher grade gathers pace.

It's just a pity we have had to wait 47 days for the action to commence. We know the calendar has been set in stone for months, but surely there could be some contingency plan to start the championship earlier and then allow for it to be pushed out depending on Meath's progression in the All-Ireland series.

Counties that were knocked out of the race for Sam after Meath have commenced their club championships.

Or maybe Meath Co Board are perfect in their timing. Waiting to start on the second weekend in August allows for the completion of the leagues and for county players to get some well deserved rest and relaxation before returning to their clubs.

It's hard to know which is the right way, but either way it looks like we are in for the best football championship yet.

With the redevelopment of Pairc Tailteann belting along and on course to be reopened in mid-April next year, the county finals will have a new home in October and many of the other bigger knockout games will be staged at some of the finest club facilities in the country.

It's a pity that we only have two stands, outside of the development of Pairc Tailteann, at grounds in Meath, and with the facilities at Castletown, while commendable, not up to the standard required it leaves Donaghmore/Ashbourne's magnificent grounds as the only viable option within the county to host the major football finals.

It was suggested that the Keegan Cup decider could be played in Parnell Park, Tullamore, Newbridge or Mullingar, but that would have been sacrilegious. Croke Park would have been acceptable, but the cost of hosting the game there would have far outweighed the incomings from a county final.

So Donaghmore/Ashbourne have been given the honour of hosting the Keegan Cup decider, although what will happen if the Moores reach the final, and that is certainly a live possibility.

Trim's St Loman's Park is likely to host major knockout games, as well as the senior hurling final, so if Donaghmore/Ashbourne were to make the final (and Trim don't), then St Loman's Park is a plausible football final option.

Meath GAA's Centre of Excellence at Dunganny, or Devenish Park as it is now known, well be the most utilised grounds during the championships this year.

A huge amount of work has gone on at the venue on the Navan Road, outside of Trim and with the newly fenced off pitch six in fine condition it is perfect as a temporary home for some huge games in the championship.

There are so many twists and turns on the road ahead and what lies around the corner nobody knows, but what is guaranteed is that their will be thrills and spills, shocks and power shifts and at the end of it champions will be crowned to go on and represent the proud county of Meath in provincial competition.

Let's get ready to rumble!