Meath Junior Football Championship
Founded1897 –
TrophyPeter McDermott Cup
Title holdersKilbride (2nd title)
Most titlesMartry (6 titles)
SponsorsBalreask Bar and Restaurant

The Meath Junior Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football competition contested by lower-tier Meath GAA clubs. The winner of this championship will be promoted to the Intermediate division. The winner also represents Meath in the Leinster Junior Club Football Championship. The 2023 Meath Junior Football Championship was won by Kilbride, who defeated Clann na nGael in the final 2-17 to 1-10.[1]

Competition format

Up until 1971, the Junior 'A' winners played against the Junior 'B' winners in the Junior Championship final, even though the teams involved in the final had played in different grades of football throughout the season.

From 2020 onwards, club reserve teams were not permitted to take part in the Junior Football Championship. The Junior 'B' Championship was abolished (with all first teams automatically promoted from it) and a separate Premier Football Championship for reserve teams was established.

History

Wolfe Tones went from this competition to Meath Senior Football Championship winners in the space of four seasons in the early 21st-century, featuring Meath player Cian Ward, whose emergence as one of Meath's "most exciting talents" coincided with this run, while 1996 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship-winning captain Tommy Dowd also joined the club around this time.[2]

Qualification for subsequent competitions

Meath Junior Club Football Championship

The Meath JFC winners qualify for the Leinster Junior Club Football Championship. It is the only team from County Meath to qualify for this competition. The Meath JFC winners enter the Leinster Junior Club Football Championship at the __ stage. For example, 2019 winner Clann na nGael played in the Leinster JFC final, losing the game by a single point.[3]

While 2015 winner Curraha won the Leinster JFC final.[4]

Meath JFC winning clubs also put together a five-year continuous sequence of Leinster titles in the 21st-century, as follows: Clann na nGael (2007), Moynalvey (2008), Longwood (2009), Ballinabrackey (2010) and Ballivor (2011).

This followed a similar, earlier, three-in-a-row sequence of Meath JFC winners of corresponding Leinster titles, as follows: Nobber (2002), Wolfe Tones (2003) and Ratoath (2004).

All-Ireland Junior Club Football Championship

The Meath JFC winners — by winning the Leinster Junior Club Football Championship — may qualify for the All-Ireland Junior Club Football Championship, at which they would enter at the __ stage, providing they haven't been drawn to face the British champions in the quarter-finals.

The Meath JFC winning club representative won consecutive All-Ireland titles in the early 21st-century as follows: Nobber in 2003 and Wolfe Tones in 2004.

Meath Junior 'A' Football Championship

[5][6]

Meath Junior 'A' Football Championship top winners

Teams in bold are still currently in existence as football clubs.

Club Titles Years won
Martry 6 1907, 1915, 1920, 1930, 1943, 1964
Ballinabrackey 5 1926, 1972, 1977, 1985, 2010
Curraha 4 1941, 1976, 2001, 2015
Carnaross 4 1921, 1945, 1951, 1991
St Peter's Dunboyne 3 1962, 1989, 2018
Meath Hill 3 1942, 1980, 2017
Ratoath 3 1970, 2004, 2012
Drumconrath 3 1928, 1963, 1996
Duleek 3 1921, 1935, 1995
Summerhill 3 1931, 1953, 1975
Dunshaughlin 3 1928, 1950, 1958
Oldcastle 3 1937, 1944, 1956
Kells 3 1917, 1922, 1951.
De la Salle (Navan) 3 1932, 1933, 1938
Kilbride 2 1960, 2023
Clann na nGael 2 2007, 2019
Bective 2 1997, 2016
Cortown 2 1993, 2014
Donaghmore 2 1924, 1971
Drumree 2 1959, 1998
Kilcoon 2 1925, 1973
Longwood 2 1939, 2009
Moynalvey 2 1981, 2008
Navan Gaels 2 1905, 1906
Navan O'Mahony's 2 1949, 1974
Nobber 2 1946, 2002
Rathkenny 2 1916, 1984
Slane 2 1918, 1952
St Michael's 2 1982, 2005
Gaeil Colmcille 2 1966, 1992
St Ultan's 2 2000, 2006
Trim 2 1934, 1940
Walterstown 2 1961, 1978
St Vincent's 2 1948, 2021
Castletown 1 2022
Athboy 1 1957
Ballinlough 1 1988
Ballivor 1 2011
Bellewstown 1 1986
Bettystown 1 1908
Bohermeen 1 1965
Dulane 1 1923
Donore 1 1913
Drumbaragh Emmets 1 2013
Flathouse 1 1968
Fordstown 1 1965
Gormanstown 1 1945
Kells Stars 1 1911
Martinstown 1 1969
Moynalty 1 1987
Navan Harps 1 1909
Newtown Round Towers 1 1897
O'Growney's 1 1910
Seneschelstown 1 1936
Syddan 1 1927
Simonstown Gaels 1 1990
St Brigid's 1 1994
St Colmcille's 1 1983
St Mary's 1 1979
St Paul's 1 1999
Wolfe Tones 1 2003
Young Irelands 1 1947

Meath Junior Football Championship Roll of Honour

From the inaugural Junior B championship in 1958 until 1971, the winners of the Junior A Championship and the winners of the Junior B Championship would play in the Junior Championship final to determine promotion to the I.F.C. On many occasions, both teams were promoted.

Year Winner Score Runner-up Score
2023[7] Kilbride 2-17 Dunsany 1-10
2022[8] Castletown 1-12 Dunsany 0-11
2021[9] St Vincent's 1-04 Dunsany 0-06
2020[10] Ballivor 0-10 St Vincent's 0-05
2019 Clann na nGael 1-08, 3–08 R Moylagh 1-08, 1–09 R
2018 St Peter's Dunboyne 'B' 2–11 St Vincent's 1–12
2017 Meath Hill 1–12 Moylagh 0-09
2016 Bective 0–15 Dunsany 0–12
2015 Curraha 2–12 Dunsany 2–11
2014 Cortown 1–10 1–11 R St Peter's Dunboyne 'B' 1–10 1–10 R
2013 Drumbaragh Emmets 0–12 1–13 R Kilmainham 1-09 0–10 R
2012 Ratoath 1–11 Donaghmore/Ashbourne 'B' 1–10
2011 Ballivor 2–14 Navan O'Mahony's B 1-08
2010 Ballinabrackey 3-04 Ballivor 0–11
2009 Longwood 1–10 Dunsany 0-07
2008 Moynalvey 0–16 Ratoath 0-07
2007 Clann na nGael 1-07 Moynalvey 1-06
2006 St Ultan's 1–10 Kilmainham 1-06
2005 St Michael's 2–11 Navan O'Mahony's B 1–11
2004 Ratoath 1-08 Dunsany 0-06
2003 Wolfe Tones 2-09 Ratoath 0-05
2002 Nobber 1–15 Dunsany 2-07
2001 Curraha 1–13 Wolfe Tones 1-06
2000 St Ultan's 1–11 St Peter's Dunboyne B 0-06
1999 St Paul's 0–11 Moylagh 0-09
1998 Drumree 1–11 St Mary's 2-05
1997 Bective 0–11 Skryne B 0-09
1996 Drumconrath 1–10 Meath Hill 0–10
1995 Duleek 1–10 Drumconrath 0–10
1994 St Brigid's 2–12 Baconstown 2-08
1993 Cortown 3–15 St Peter's Dunboyne 'B' 1-09
1992 Gaeil Colmcille 'B' 2–09 Ratoath 2-06
1991 Carnaross 1–14 Drumree 0-05
1990 Simonstown Gaels 2–10 Cortown 1–10
1989 St Peter's Dunboyne 0–10, 0–10 (R) Carnaross 1-07 1-05 (R)
1988 Ballinlough 0–12 Carnaross 2-05
1987 Moynalty 2–11 Cortown 1-05
1986 Bellewstown 0-05 Simonstown Gaels 0-04
1985 Ballinabrackey 1-03 Moynalty 0-05
1984 Rathkenny 1-09 Moynalty 0-02
1983 St Colmcille's Moynalty
1982 St Michael's 2-06 Seneschalstown 'B' 1-07
1981 Moynalvey 1-07 St Michael's 0-04
1980 Meath Hill 2-06 Moynalty 0-03
1979 St Mary's 2-06 Meath Hill 2-06
1978 Walterstown 1-08, 3-08 (R) St Mary's 1-08, 0-06 (R)
1977 Ballinabrackey 3-04 Skryne 'B' 1-07
1976 Curraha 1–10 Nobber 3-01
1975 Summerhill 'B' 1-09 Drumbaragh Emmets 1-05
1974 Navan O'Mahony's 'B' 4-05 St Colmcille's 0-08
1973 Kilcoon 1-07 Gibbstown 1-04
1972 Ballinabrackey 0–11 Dunsany 2-02
1971 Donaghmore 4-04 Clonard 1-09
1970 Ratoath Navan O'Mahony's
1969 Martinstown 1–10 Kilcloon 1-04
1968 Flathouse 3-06 Gibbstown 0-01
1967 Dunshaughlin 5-03 Skryne 0-04
1966 Gaeil Colmcille 'B' 2-06 Summerhill 2-03
1965 Bohermeen 1-06 Oldcastle 0-04
1964 Martry 2-07 Enfield 0-05
1963 Drumconrath 1-04 Kilberry 0-06
1962 St Peter's Dunboyne 'B' 2–13 Donore 'B' 0-04
1961 Walterstown 0–10 Ratoath 0-01
1960 Kilbride 1-09 Batterstown 0-01
1959 Drumree 1–10 Longwood 0-05
1958 Dunshaughlin Clonard
1957 Athboy 2-03 Castletown 0-08
1956 Oldcastle 2-04 Nobber 0-04
1955 Carnaross 3-05 Curraha 0-02
1954 Fordstown 1-06, 2–03 R Donore 2-03, 1–03 R
1953 Summerhill 1-05, 1–06 R Drumbaragh 0-08, 1–05 R
1952 Slane 4-04 Carnaross 1-01
1951 Kells Harps 3-01 Kilberry 2-01
1950 Dunshaughlin 2-07 Carnaross 1-01
1949 Navan O'Mahony's 2-03 Drumree 1-04
1948 Ardcath Ballinabrackey
1947 Young Irelands Cushenstown 2-02, 2–04 R Moynalty 1-05, 0–04 R
1946 Nobber 2-06 St Mary's 1-06
1945 Gormanstown 3-04 Ballivor 1-03
1944* Oldcastle 0-06 Walterstown 2-06
1943 Martry 5-04 Castletown 0-06
1942 Meath Hill 3-06 Kilcloon 1-06
1941 Carnaross 3-04 Wilkinstown 0-05
1940 Trim 3-08 St Vincent's Ardcath 1-06
1939 Longwood 4-05 Ballinlough 1-01
1938 De la Salle 3-02 Ballinabrackey 1-03
1937 Oldcastle 3-04 Ballinabrackey 1-01
1936 Seneschalstown 0-04 Dunshaughlin 0-02
1935 Duleek 2-04 Tullaghanstown 0-05
1934 Trim 0-05 Oldcastle 0-02
1933* Navan Harps 0-04, 1-05 (R) Pluxtown 1-01 1-05 (R)
1932 De la Salle (Navan) 2-03 Rathkenny 0-02
1931 Summerhill St Colmcille's (Kells)
1930 Martry 1-04 Moynalty 1-03
1929 Carnaross 3-03 Curraha 0-02
1928 Drumconrath 4-06 Rathmolyon 0-02
1927 Syddan 1-05 Ardcath 0-04
1926 Ballinabrackey 3-05 Boyerstown 0-00
1925 Kilcoon 0-03 Kells 0-01
1924 Donaghmore 0-05, 3-00 (R) Navan Harps 1-02, 0-08 (R)
1923 Dulane 0-01, 1-00 (R), 2-04 (2R) Walterstown 0-01, 0-03 (R), 1-02 (2R)
1922 Kells 3-03 Navan Harps 'B' 1-02
1921 Duleek 0-01 Ballinabrackey 0-00
1920 Martry 3-00 Trim Abbey Harps 0-02
1919 Enfield 0-05 Kilbeg Volunteers 0-04
1918 Slane 3-06 Athboy 1-01
1917 Kells 1-06 Ashbourne 1-03
1916 Rathkenny 0-02 Ballinlough 0-01
1915 Martry
1914 Curraha
1913 Donore
1912 Carnaross Skryne
1911 Kells Stars 3-02 Trim Abbey Harps 1-01
1910 O'Growney's
1909 Navan Harps
1908 Bettystown
1907 Martry
1906 Navan Gaels
1905 Navan Gaels
1904
1903
1902 Julianstown
1901
1900
1899
1898
1897 Newtown Round Towers 1-07 Carnaross St Kieran's 0-02

Meath Junior 'A' F.C. Divisional Roll of Honour

Year Winner Score Runner-up Score
1971 Donaghmore 3-09 Boardsmill 0–11
1970 Ratoath 2-08 Cortown 0-06
1969 Martinstown 2-09 Stars of the Sea 1–11
1968 Flathouse 1-08, 3–06 R Moylagh 1-08, 1–07 R
1967 Dunshaughlin 0-08 Athboy 0-05
1966 Summerhill 0–10 Kilallon 0-02
1965 Oldcastle 0-09, 1–09 R Donaghmore 1-06, 0–04 R
1964 Enfield 1–13 Seneschalstown 0-04
1963 Drumconrath 3-04 Ballinabrackey 0–12
1962 St Peter's Dunboyne 'B' 1-09 Clonard 0-01
1961 Ratoath 2-07 Rathmolyon 2-04
1960 Kilbride 2-07 Clonard 0-04
1959 Drumree 1-08, 1–08 R, 1-04 2R St Patrick's 1-08, 2–05 R, 0-05 2R
1958* Clonard 2-06 Curraha 3-04

Meath Junior 'B' Football Championship

The Junior B Football Championship was abolished after 2019. All 'B' teams and St Paul's were incorporated into a new Premier Championship, while all other first teams competing in the Junior B Football Championship were regraded to the Junior Football Championship. The Junior B Championship was reintroduced in 2022.

Year Winner Score Runner-up Score
2023[11] Slane 2-10 Moynalty 0-10
2022[12] St. Brigid's 3-15 Slane 1-06
2021 No Championship
2020 No Championship
2019 Ratoath 'B' 2–15 Kilbride 1-09
2018 Na Fianna 'B' 3–10 Slane 2-05
2017 Gaeil Colmcille 'B' 4–16 Kilbride 1–14
2016 St Vincent's 0–16 Moynalty 1-08
2015 Seneschalstown 'B' 0–14 St Vincent's 1-07
2014 Wolfe Tones 'B' 1–11 Seneschalstown 'B' 1–10
2013 Boardsmill 1–13 Moynalty 2-09
2012 Dunshaughlin 'B' 0–12 St Mary's Donore 0-09
2011 Clonard 1–13 Ratoath 'B' 0-07
2010 Trim 'B' 2-04 Moynalty 0-09
2009 Duleek/Bellewstown 'B' 0–12 Moynalty 1-07
2008 Donaghmore/Ashbourne 'B' 1-08 St Vincent's 0-08
2007 Wolfe Tones 'B' 1–10 Trim 'B' 1-06
2006 St Brigid's Ballinacree 1-07 Clonard 0-06
2005 Boardsmill 1–10 St Brigid's Ballinacree 1-09
2004 Longwood 2–12 Walterstown 'B' 0-06
2003 St Vincent's 1–10 Boardsmill 2-06
2002 Summerhill 'B' 1-09 Walterstown 'B' 1-06
2001 Kilmainham 3–12 Longwood 0-09
2000 Dunderry 'B' 1–10 Kilmainham 2-06
1999 Drumbaragh Emmets 1-07 Walterstown 'B' 0-07
1998 Trim 'B' 0-09 Clonard 0-06
1997 Curraha 1-08 Castletown 'B' 0-09
1996 Seneschalstown 'B' 3–13 Clonard 0–12
1995 Simonstown Gaels 'B' 0–13 Curraha 0–11
1994 Dunshaughlin 'B'
1993 Slane 'B' 1–09 Seneschalstown 'B' 0–10
1992 Batterstown 2–08 Dunshaughlin 0–10
1991 Trim 'B' 2–10 St Ultan's 0-05
1990 St. Peter's Dunboyne 'B' 0–11 Robinstown 0-08
1989 Skryne 'B'
1988 Nobber 'B' 2-03 Skryne 'B' 1-03
1987 Simonstown Gaels 'B' 1-07 Duleek 'B' 1-06
1986 St Peter's Dunboyne 'B' 1-08 Ratoath 'B' 1-04
1985 Navan O'Mahonys 'C' 1–11 Castletown 'B' 1-05
1984 Ballivor 'B'
1983 Slane 'B' 2-04 Walterstown 'C' 1-05
1982 Syddan 'B' 0-07 Duleek 'B' 2-00
1981 Martinstown/Athboy 'B' 1–10 Ballivor 'B' 0-05
1980 Walterstown 'C' 0–10 Martinstown/Athboy 'B' 1-05
1979 Gaeil Colmcille 'B' 4-06 Martinstown/Athboy 'B' 2-05
1978 Trim 'B' 1-05 Rathkenny 'B' 0-04
1977 Walterstown 'B' 2-09 Longwood 1-05
1976 Skryne 'C' 5-07 Baconstown 0-04
1975 St Patrick's 'B' 2-07 Curraha 0–11
1974 Gaeil Colmcille 'B' 0-05, 2–05 R Nobber 1-02, 1–02 R
1973 Seneschalstown 'B' 2-04 Summerhill 'B' 0-02
1972 Batterstown 3-07 Summerhill 'B' 0-03
1971 Clonard 1-08 St Peter's Dunboyne 'B' 0-05
1970 Navan O'Mahonys 'B' 0-07 Simonstown Gaels 0-04
1969 Kilcloon 0-09 Shallon 0-06
1968 Gibbstown 0-08 Walterstown 'C' 0-04
1967 Skryne 'B' 3-07 Bective 0-05
1966 Gaeil Colmcille 'B' 1-04 Flathouse 0-03
1965 Bohermeen 4-06 Commons 1-02
1964 Martry 4-09 Boardsmill 2-01
1963 Kilberry 2-07 Lougher 2-05
1962 Donore 'B' 2–10 Athboy 'B' 2-04
1961 Walterstown 0–10 St Peter's Dunboyne 'B' 1-04
1960 Batterstown 1-09 Commons 2-04
1959 Longwood 5-06 Skryne 'B' 0-05
1958 Dunshaughlin 1-06 Rathmolyon 1-02

References

  1. ^ "JFC final: Kilbride conquer Clann". hoganstand.com. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  2. ^ Boyle, Donnchadh; McKeon, Conor (9 November 2021). "'You have to grasp the nettle when you are good enough' — Ward". Irish Independent.
  3. ^ "Rathgarogue/Cushinstown make Leinster club history". Irish Examiner. 8 December 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  4. ^ "Leinster Club JFC: Curraha cap an outstanding year". Hogan Stand. 7 December 2015. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  5. ^ "Meath Chronicle Archives". Irishnewsarchive.com. 16 January 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  6. ^ "Meath Gaelic Football Champions Roll of Honor". Hoganstand.com. 16 January 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  7. ^ "JFC final: Kilbride conquer Clann". hoganstand.com. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  8. ^ "JFC final: Castletown reign over Dunsany". hoganstand.com. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  9. ^ "JFC final:Vincent's perseverence rewarded". hoganstand.com. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  10. ^ "JFC final: Ballivor control contest to take tile". hoganstand.com. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  11. ^ "JFC B final: Early goals sets Slane up for victory". hoganstand.com. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  12. ^ "JFC B final: Ballinacree boys boss Slane". hoganstand.com. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
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