| Season | 2016 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Simonstown Gaels (1st title) |
| Relegated | Ballinlough |
| All Ireland SCFC | n/a |
| Winning Captain | Joe Lyons |
| Man of the Match | Padraig McKeever |
| Winning Manager | Colm O'Rourke |
| Matches played | 56 |
←2015 2017 → | |
The2016 Meath Senior Football Championship was the 124th edition of theMeath GAA's premier clubGaelic football tournament for senior clubs inCounty Meath, Ireland. Eighteen teams competed, with the winner representing Meath in theLeinster Senior Club Football Championship. The championship started with a group stage and then progressed to a knock out stage.[citation needed]
Navan O'Mahonys were the defending champions after they defeated Na Fianna in the 2015 final, however they failed to make it past the group stages, winning only one match out of five.
This was Ratoath's first ever period in the senior grade after claiming the2015 Meath Intermediate Football Championship title.
This year saw the 9th "Navan El Classico" take place in the SFC as Simonstown Gaels and Navan O'Mahonys drew in the group stage, leaving their overall head-to-head score as 5-3 in favour of O'Mahonys and 1 draw.
Ballinlough were relegated back the 2017 I.F.C. after losing the Relegation Play-off series, and thus ending their 2 year tenure in the top flight.
On 30 October 2016 Simonstown Gaels claimed their first ever S.F.C. title when defeating Donaghmore/Ashbourne inPairc Tailteann on a scoreline of 1-14 to 0-8. Joe Lyons lifted the Keegan Cup for the north Navan side while Padraig McKeever claimed the "Man-of-the-Match" award. In his 18th season playing for Simonstown, 36 year oldSéamus Kenny earned his first S.F.C. medal.
The draw for the group stages of the championship were made on 8 February 2016 with the games commencing on the weekend of 9 April 2016.
Due to the lack of success of theMeath Senior football team in the previous few years, it was proposed to make the club championships more competitive by reducing the number of teams in each tier of the championship and then the number of teams in each group to provide more 'do-or-die' matches which in turn would provide more competitiveness.On 18 January, the decision was made to cut the number of Senior clubs to 16 in 2017. This means that 3 of the 18 clubs would be relegated at the end of the 2016 season while the 2016 I.F.C. champions would make up the top 16. In 2017, the 16 teams will compete in 4 groups of 4.[1][2]
However on 21 March, a proposal from the Slane club to retain the status-quo format was accepted by 40 to 14 votes.[3]
The following teams have changed division since the 2015 championship season.
To S.F.C.[edit]Promoted fromI.F.C.
| From S.F.C.[edit]Relegated toI.F.C. |
The teams taking part in the 2016 Meath Senior Football Championship are:
| Club | Location | Pre C'ship Odds | 2015 Championship Position | 2016 Championship Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballinlough | Ballinlough & Kilskyre | 66/1 | Non Qualifier | Relegated |
| Blackhall Gaels | Batterstown &Kilcloon | 66/1 | Non Qualifier | Non Qualifier |
| Donaghmore/Ashbourne | Ashbourne | 9/2 | Quarter-Finalist | Finalist |
| Duleek/Bellewstown | Bellewstown &Duleek | 66/1 | Non Qualifier | Relegation Playoff |
| Dunshaughlin | Dunshaughlin &Drumree | 40/1 | Quarter-Finalist | Preliminary Quarter-Finalist |
| Gaeil Colmcille | Kells | 22/1 | Semi Finalist | Semi Finalist |
| Moynalvey | Moynalvey &Kiltale | 66/1 | Non Qualifier | Non Qualifier |
| Na Fianna | Enfield & Baconstown | 8/1 | Finalists | Quarter-Finalist |
| Navan O'Mahonys | Navan | 11/8 | Champions | Non Qualifier |
| Rathkenny | Rathkenny & Stackallan | 66/1 | Relegation Playoff | Non Qualifier |
| Ratoath | Ratoath | 5/1 | Intermediate Champions | Non Qualifier |
| Seneschalstown | Kentstown &Yellow Furze | 50/1 | Non Qualifier | Quarter-Finalist |
| Simonstown Gaels | Navan | 12/1 | Non Qualifier | Champions |
| Skryne | Skryne & Tara | 25/1 | Preliminary Quarter-Finalist | Semi Finalist |
| St. Patrick's | Gormanston,Julianstown &Stamullen | 33/1 | Relegation Playoff | Non Qualifier |
| St. Peter's Dunboyne | Dunboyne | 14/1 | Semi Finalist | Quarter-Finalist |
| Summerhill | Summerhill | 12/1 | Quarter-Finalist | Quarter-Finalist |
| Wolfe Tones | Kilberry,Gibbstown, Oristown &Wilkinstown | 16/2 | Quarter-Finalist | Relegation Playoff |
There are three groups of six teams called Group A, B and C. The 2 top finishers in each group and the third-place finisher in Group A will qualify for the Quarter Finals. The third placed teams in Group B and C will qualify for a Preliminary Quarter Final, with the winner earning a place in last eight. The bottom finishers of each group will qualify for the Relegation Play Off.The draw for the group stages of the championship were made on 8 February 2016 with the games commencing on the weekend of 9 April 2016.
| Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
|
| Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
|
| Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5 |
The winners and runners up of the three groups and the third placed team of Group A automatically qualify for the quarter finals. The third placed teams in Groups B and C play off to determine the team that completes the quarter final lineup.
| Preliminary Round | Quarter-Finals | Semi-Finals | Final | ||||||||||||||||
| Donaghmore/Ashbourne | 1-17 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Dunshaughlin | 1-10 | Seneschalstown | 0-5 | ||||||||||||||||
| Donaghmore/Ashbourne | 2-16 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Donaghmore/Ashbourne | 1-9 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Skryne | 0-8 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Skryne | 1-11 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Summerhill | 0-9 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Donaghmore/Ashbourne | 0-8 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Simonstown Gaels | 1-14 | ||||||||||||||||||
| St. Peter's Dunboyne | 1-17 (A.E.T.) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Simonstown Gaels | 3-16 (A.E.T.) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Simonstown Gaels | 0-14 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Gaeil Colmcille | 0-12 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Na Fianna | 0-15 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Gaeil Colmcille | 2-18 | ||||||||||||||||||
Preliminary Quarter-Final:
Quarter-Finals:
Semi-Finals:
Final:
| Simonstown Gaels | 1-14 - 0-8 | Donaghmore/Ashbourne |
|---|---|---|
| P. McKeever 0-6 (4f), J. Lyons 1-0, S. O'Rourke, C. Nash 0-2 each, C. Sheridan ('45), B. McGrath , M. Brennan and S. Kenny 0-1 each. | Report | M. Deegan 0-3 (2f), A. Tormey 0-2, D. Brady 0-1, C. Carey 0-1, J. Colgan 0-1. |
The three bottom teams from each group entered the relegation play-off group and played each other in a round robin basis.[citation needed]
The team with the worst record after two matches was relegated to the 2017 Intermediate Championship.[citation needed]
|
|
Quarter Final:
Rhode 1-12, 1-9 Simonstown,O'Connor Park, 13/11/2016,[53]
