Well with the championship only a few days away what way do people see it goin.
Kiltale obviously the team to beat but who are the main challengers.
I'd have to say the obvious one is kildalkey after that I suppose on the last few years form next would be killyon and kilmessan but this year could see a surprise in ratoath. It's going to be tough to get out of group 1 I think kiltale and kildalkey are dead certs after that it could go anyway. In group 2 you'd expect trim and Longwood to make it out but also if any of them get on a run they could be dangerous with omahonys the most likely i would say. Anyway here's how I think it will go this weekend.
Kildalkey v kilmessan. Hard to see past kildalkey for this one will be close as will most matches this year but I'll go for kildalkey by 4
Kiltale v duboyne. First round could be a good time to get kiltale with so many county lads only really getting a week with club but think kiltale are used to this now kiltale by 5
Killyon v ratoath. On league form there's only one winner here but champ will be different story think this one will be close I'll go for a draw.
Trim v Longwood. Biggest game in this group you would think I think both team would have preferred it later on as good prep for q final. Think Longwood will sneak this one by the minimum
Dunderry v Blackhall. Another big game both teams will have targeted this one to get them up and running and give themselves a chance of qualification I'll go for dunderry by 2.
Boardsmill v navan. Another tough one to call navan seem to be goin better in league on that I'll go for them by 6.
Overall I think the new system is goin to make for a lot of exciting matches and can't wait for it to kick off

Flash27 (Meath) - Posts: 54 - 13/06/2018 10:21:54    2110898

overthehill72 (Meath) - Posts: 334 - 13/06/2018 11:15:14    2110921

Kilmessan v Kildalkey - Kildalkey by 4. Derek Doran coming back will tip it for Kildalkey.

Kiltale v Dunboyne - Kiltale by 6. Dunboyne always start well and this result would be considered good.

Killyon v Ratoath - Killyon by 6. Killyon had a poor league but Keith Keogan and Adam Gannon returning form county duty will tip it in their favour esp as G McGowan appears to be carrying an injury.

Trim v Longwood - Longwood by 5. I still think James Toher is not fully recovered whereas Mickey Burke is flying, though Damien Healy did not appear happy in a forward role with he county I expect he will make difficult at the back for Trim.

Blackhall v Dunderry - Blackhall by 7. Dunderry appear to be more interested in football at present.

Boardsmill v Navan - Draw. I have to give the mill a bit of a boost.

MillerX (Meath) - Posts: 742 - 13/06/2018 21:39:57    2111279

Kilmessan Kildalkey - Kildalkey by 4
Kiltale Dunboyne - Kiltale by 4
Killyon Ratoath - Ratoath by 7

Trim Longwood - Longwood by 7
Blackhall Dunderry - Blackhall by 5
Boardsmill Navan - Navan by 5

gardentree (Meath) - Posts: 194 - 15/06/2018 15:05:37    2111869

Some disappointing games so far. New system hasn't produced anything exciting yet. Longwood and Trim best game so far and it was poor. Trim decimated by injuries and only lose by 3. Not a good sign for Longwood. Kilmessan way off the mark. Kildalkey didn't leave 2nd gear. Dunboyne shocking. Kiltale just ticked over. Ratoath or killyon today ?

StickFan (Meath) - Posts: 192 - 17/06/2018 10:53:28    2112227

Got 5 of the results right, the margins a bit off though. Delighted that the mill proved me wrong though,see I believed some of the propaganda. Forgot that O'Mahonys were Intermediate for a reason!!!

Dunboyne and Kilmessan disappointing, pressure on both of them now along with Ratoath, most likely the two non-qualifiers will come from this trio.

Dunderry under pressure in Group B and we could have some skewed results in this section.

Still the new system should be given a few years.

MillerX (Meath) - Posts: 742 - 17/06/2018 19:06:24    2112358

Got to a few matches over the weekend,
kildalkey won well as expected as expected but kilmessan were very poor and will be playing their trade in the "weaker" group next year I would imagine.
Longwood scraped by trim in group B. Great win for them but they made hard work of a very poor trim team who were missing so many of their more influential players.
Boardsmill surprised me against navan, as I fancied the town team to win easy enough. A good result for bmill, one more win and they are safe for another year. (Relegation experts) navan have a great chance to gain results against dunderry, trim and blackhall and I fancy them to stay up.
Didn't get to see killyon, who we all know are a typical championship team but that's a serious win for them against a hard working and physical rathoath team.
What happened dunderry? We're they that bad or were blackhall unbelievable?

peterpan1 (Meath) - Posts: 9 - 20/06/2018 11:46:03    2113313

loyaltothecause (Meath) - Posts: 9 - 20/06/2018 12:50:33    2113328

overthehill72 (Meath) - Posts: 334 - 20/06/2018 12:55:28    2113331

MillerX (Meath) - Posts: 742 - 20/06/2018 13:25:28    2113341

I went to a couple of Championship games at weekend. I think new format is far to weaker clubs. Empressed with Longwood against Trim, they're fast and played good stuff, Trim aside from injuries were really poor, something not right in Trim club for how poor they have being last few years. Kiltale were excellent against Dunboyne, did what was needed, still team to beat. Kildalkey were good against Kilmessan and definitely have the talent and squad to break Kiltale dominance, they had a lot of new faces in team and looked the part. Great game next week with Kildalkey v Kiltale to look forward too.

Redsalltheway (Meath) - Posts: 112 - 21/06/2018 11:17:05    2113531

every game is hard to call this week but here are my predictions.

Killyon Kilmessan Killyon by 4
St Peter's Dunboyne v Ratoath Ratoath by 3
Navan O'Mahony's v Dunderry Navan by 3
Blackhall Gaels v Trim Trim by 2
Boardsmill Longwood Longwood by 4
Kiltale Kildalkey Kiltale by 5

overthehill72 (Meath) - Posts: 334 - 26/06/2018 09:46:20    2115190

StickFan (Meath) - Posts: 192 - 26/06/2018 14:15:49    2115398

loyaltothecause (Meath) - Posts: 9 - 26/06/2018 16:31:02    2115492

Killyon were lucky they didn't throw away that match last night but a good win never the less with 5 players missing from the first round. it would appear kilmessan is on a downward curve and there may be a few years before the jubilee reappear in the village. Still very dependent on Stephen Clynch and Joey Kenna with no talent coming through.

Foley91 (Meath) - Posts: 339 - 28/06/2018 12:47:14    2116390

Typical killyon with a hard fought win last night. It will always take a good team to beat them.
Ratoath and dunboyne is a very interesting clash and a real test of where ratoath ate at. I'll say ratoath by 2.
Kildalkey and kiltale is a warm up really and wouldn't be surprised if the blue and whites laid down a huge marker for this clash.
In group B, navan have just about enough to get over the dunderry challenge.. But only just.
Boardsmill and Longwood could be interesting, I seen the score from the league game and Longwood ran home easy winners, I'd imagine boardsmill will be confident and will really test the wood. Could be a draw or boardsmill will do what they always do and be happy to win a game to stay up and not bother.
Finally blackhall will have to much for a depleted trim side, although you can never write trim off. Could be a good contest which will determine the final standings, if trim lose they will be very unlikely to make it through the group. A loss will also leave them facing down relegation with a few local Derby's and a towns derby against navan. Worrying times ahead possibly.

peterpan1 (Meath) - Posts: 9 - 28/06/2018 13:21:03    2116402

Well so far the new system seems to be working pretty good apart from a couple of slightly one sided games there's been very little in most of them. In group a looks like it's going to be 1 from dunboyne kilmessan or ratoath to qualify with ratoath looking like the most likely for me huge achievement if they do considering they were intermediate 2 yrs ago. Killyon look like they've got there act together after poor league campaign. Looking forward to the big one tonight will both teams go at it or will it just be a bit of shadow boxing I'll go for kildalkey by 3
In group b with Longwood beating trim they should make it out handy enough now and you'd have to think once trim get their players back they will join them bit I don't think any of the others will be giving up just yet dunderry look most likely for the drop. In tonight's game I think Longwood will prob just shade it after a tough game Longwood by 5
Looking forward to the rest of the championship

Flash27 (Meath) - Posts: 54 - 01/07/2018 11:05:33    2117113

Kiltale kildalkey had draw written all over it. Surprised by trim winning other than that results went as expected. Kiltalke and kildalkey have more to offer. Kiltale missing a few. Who's the happier.

StickFan (Meath) - Posts: 192 - 02/07/2018 02:08:29    2117471

I was in Navan last night and reckon Kiltale were the happier of the two teams leaving. Kiltale with a lot of firepower to come back into the starting 15,

Kildalkey seem have a huge psychological hurdle to get over if they are ever going to topple Kiltale, had numerous chances to put the game to bed and couldn't do it. Credit must be given to Kiltale who just refuse to roll over.

Kilyon seem to have really turned things around and look strong.

Few issues from the weekend:
Refereeing: Lack of official linesmen/umpires for championship matches is one thing but I watched the two games on the box yesterday before going to Navan and the difference in officiating is staggering. Meath refs are always fair to both teams but I honestly think if a club ref in Meath got a big match there'd be no one left on the field. Frees given too easily in my opinion. Anyone else agree? I think everyone just wants to see an open game.

PT: Are the county board just going to neglect the pitch in PT until the new stand is built? The pitch was in an awful way last night.

begining (UK) - Posts: 277 - 02/07/2018 09:10:28    2117511

Kildalkey were the better team last night but Kiltale should be a lot stronger come the end of championship as they are missing 5 to 6 players.
i wouldnt write kildalkey off yet though and killyon and ratoath are the next best teams. Trim and Killyon should qualify from group B

overthehill72 (Meath) - Posts: 334 - 02/07/2018 09:47:45    2117534