IFC Preview: Moynalvey hoping to put things to rights after last year's derailment

Any championship campaign can be filled with precarious twists and turns that can lead to their unexpected demise in an instant. That’s certainly the case when it comes to the Meath IFC.

Take Moynalvey’s adventures last year. They were undefeated until they reached the last four. Then it all fell apart. Instead of defeating Castletown, as many expected, they lost their way; their campaign fell asunder.

Yet a team can learn a lot from such bitter experiences which is why it is felt they can push on and avoid any pitfalls this year and claim the famous, old trophy, the Mattie McDonnell Cup – and a place back in the top flight.

Losing that semi-final to Castletown (it finished 1-14 to 0-26) can provide the Maroons with a powerful source of inspiration to put things rights this time.

There are other sound reasons for believing they can end up as champions. There is the fact that they have spent the last few months playing in Div 1, grappling with senior teams for precious league points.

Moynalvey were only reasonably successful in doing that, shipping seven losses while drawing three and winning just once, yet it was sequence of results good enough to keep them ahead of bottom club Na Fianna.

The point is Moynalvey were the only intermediate team in Div 1, playing the top sides, week in, week out, something that is sure to aid their sharpness for the tests ahead.

The Maroons also have a collection of players such as Conor Harnan, Padraic Harnan, Cillian O’Sullivan, Michael Brady, David McLoughlin and Hugh O’Sullivan who form the basis of a forceful unit.

One caveat as far as Moynalvey are concerned is the fact their team contains a contingent of Kiltale hurlers who are sure to be busy also vying for the SHC. That leaves those dual players open to wear and tear – something that may have contributed to last year’s semi-final collapse.

OTHER CONTENDERS

Other live contenders for the big prize are Castletown and Oldcastle as well as St Michael’s and St Patrick’s. In recent years Castletown have gone so, so close to securing their place at the top table.

In 2024 they lost the semi-final to Navan O’Mahonys. Last year they were defeated in the IFC showdown by Kilbride in the most agonising, tension-filled finale.

Remember? Kilbride led by a point as the engaging contest drew to a close. Castletown won a '45'. Kevin Ross bravely stepped up to take it but arrowed the ball wide. It was the last kick. Kilbride held on. So Castletown, painfully, lost out, but they can strike again – as long as they continue to believe.

Killian Smyth, Rian McConnell, Evan Hoey, Adam Matthews are the kind of players in the green and gold who can help to ensure their place in the mix once more, with thoughts of the bitter setbacks of recent times (including a defeat to Kilbride in the Div 3 final last week), fuelling the team ever onwards.

Oldcastle and St Michael’s met in last year’s quarter-final (which the Saints won 1-15 to 2-10) and both can reach the same stage again – at least. St Michael’s should certainly emerge from a group containing Walterstown, Drumbaragh and Clann na nGael.

Things are somewhat more complicated for Oldcastle. They find themselves in the IFC’s Group of Death, Group D, along with Duleek/Bellewstown, Ballivor and Castletown. The two teams that work their way out of that highly-competitive environment will certainly deserve their place in the last eight. After that anything is possible.

St Patrick’s can look back on how they lost out in the quarter-final stage last year to eventual champions Kilbride and take heart.

They were conquered, 1-16 to 2-14, but they could, should have won that game.

With players such as Jamie Murphy, David McQuillan and Sean Emmanuel the Stamullen side can be a formidable force indeed. They look sure bets to make it out of Group A that also contains Longwood, Bective and O’Mahonys.

Ah yes O’Mahonys. Which version of the Navan giants will show up for this year’s championship? Will it be the team that pushed hard for the title in 2024 when they reached the final (where they sensationally, and narrowly lost out to Meath Hill) or will it be the team that completely lost its way last year and were somewhat fortunate to win a relegation final against Curraha?

This year O’Mahonys finished top of the FL Div 2 which suggests they have rediscovered their mojo, even if the lost to Seneschalstown at the semi-final stage.

They surely have too many resources, too many talented players, to be dragged into another relegation battle. They, instead, can even be considered outsiders to go all the way.

Another team that belongs in a similar championship ranking as O’Mahonys is Duleek/Bellewstown. After all they reached back-to-back IFC finals in 2022 (where they lost out to Dunshaughlin) and 2023 (Rathkenny) and only narrowly missed out on a place in the quarter-finals over the past two years. They too have the pedigree but could still be edged out by Oldcastle and Castletown in that super-competitive group.

Drumbaragh, defeated in the Div 4 final by Ratoath, reached the quarter-finals in 2025 and may do so again but that’s likely to be as far as they go.

Dunsany, did very well to secure a place in the last eight in 2025 in what was there first year in the IFC – and they are tipped again to make it out of Group C this time around, with Moynalvey, but again that will be the limit of their progress. Meath Hill and Blackhall Gaels are also in that group.

CHASING PACK

Behind the teams mentioned above there’s a collection of sides that could be neatly categorised into the chasing pack; occupiers of the middle ground.

They are unlikely to be contesting for the title but should still do enough to avoid a relegation scrap. That category includes teams such as Bective, Walterstown and Meath Hill.

Which brings us to another big question. Who is going to be relegated? The make up of the group suggests that Longwood, Blackhall Gaels, Clann na nGael and Ballivor could find themselves in a battle to avoid the quagmire. Out of those four, Longwood, look must likely to be dragged down.

For some years now the ‘Wood have drawn on the services of a core group of players to sustain themselves at senior level in hurling and the intermediate in football. It has been quite an achievement by the relatively small, rural club but old man time and injuries are formidable foes.

Longwood’s opening game of the campaign against Bective is a cup final for them. Win that and they will take a huge step to securing safety for another year. Lose it and they are in trouble because it’s hard to visualise them taking anything from St Pat’s or O’Mahonys.

All is ready for the start of another intriguing IFC campaign.