2026 Meath Senior Football Championship
 | |
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| County | Meath |
| Province | Leinster |
| Year | 2026 |
| Trophy | Keegan Cup |
| Sponsor | Fairyhouse Steel |
| Date | 6 August 2026 – 18 October 2026 |
| Teams | 16 |
| Defending champions |  Summerhill |
| Other | |
| Matches played | 34 |
| Website | Meath GAA |
The 2026 Meath Senior Football Championship is the 134th edition of the Meath GAA's premier club Gaelic football tournament for senior clubs in County Meath, with 16 teams competing. The winner will represent Meath in the Leinster Senior Club Football Championship. The championship will start with a group stage and then progress to a knock-out stage.
Summerhill are the defending champions after defeating Ratoath 0–16 to 0–13 in the final to win their 9th Keegan Cup and their 2nd in the space of 3 years.[1]
Kilbride won the 2025 Meath Intermediate Football Championship by beating Castletown 0–20 to 1–16 in the final, gaining them senior status for the first time since 1978.[2] Meath Hill replaces them in the 2026 Meath I.F.C after losing the Relegation final to St Colmcille's.[3]
The draw for the group stage was conducted on 19 January 2026,[4] and the fixtures for those group stage games were finalised on 18 June 2026.[5]
Championship Structure
The 2026 Meath S.F.C consists of 16 teams openly drawn into four groups each containing four teams. The top two teams progress to the quarter-finals, while the bottom team in each group contests the Relegation Semi-finals. The loser of the semi-finals will play-off against one another for the right to retain their senior status into 2027.
Team Changes
The following teams have changed division since the 2025 championship season:
To S.F.C.Promoted from 2025 I.F.C.
|
From S.F.C.Relegated to 2026 I.F.C.
|
Participating teams
The teams participating in the 2026 Meath S.F.C are:
| Club | Location | Manager(s) | Pre C'ship Odds | 2025 Championship Position | In championship since | Championship Titles | Last Championship Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballinabrackey |
Ballinabrackey | Ciarán Giblin | 80/1 | Quarter-Finalist | 2020 | 0 | — |
 Donaghmore/Ashbourne |
Ashbourne | Timmy O'Regan | 20/1 | Quarter-Finalist | 2008 | 3 | 1942 |
 Dunshaughlin |
Dunshaughlin & Drumree | Richie Kealy | 6/1 | Semi-Finalist | 2023 | 4 | 2024 |
 Gaeil Colmcille |
Kells | Conn Cleary | 18/1 | Relegation Semi-Finalist | 2014 | 3 | 1991 |
 Kilbride |
Kilbride | Anthony Moyles | 80/1 | I.F.C Champions | 2026 | 5 | 1971 |
| Na Fianna |
Enfield & Baconstown | Johnny Baldwin | 50/1 | Non-Qualifier | 2013 | 0 | — |
 Rathkenny |
Rathkenny | Joey Farrelly | 50/1 | Non-Qualifier | 2024 | 5 | 1923 |
| Ratoath |
Ratoath | Kevin Daly | 9/4 | Runners-Up | 2016 | 3 | 2022 |
| Seneschalstown |
Kentstown & Yellow Furze | David Hosie | 25/1 | Non-Qualifier | 1968 | 4 | 2009 |
 Simonstown Gaels |
Navan | Tony Dunne | 50/1 | Relegation Semi-Finalist | 1996 | 2 | 2017 |
 Skryne |
Skryne & Tara | Aidan Tuite | 33/1 | Semi-Finalist | 1938 | 13 | 2010 |
| St Colmcille's |
Bettystown, Donacarney, Laytown & Mornington | Mickey Conlon | 25/1 | Relegation Finalist | 2017 | 0 | — |
| St Peter's Dunboyne |
Dunboyne | David Gallagher | 16/1 | Non-Qualifier | 1993 | 3 | 2018 |
| Summerhill |
Summerhill | Dave Clare | 3/1 | Champions | 1972 | 9 | 2025 |
 Trim |
Trim | Ken Robinson | 20/1 | Quarter-Finalist | 2022 | 1 | 1962 |
 Wolfe Tones |
Kilberry, Gibbstown, Oristown & Wilkinstown | Shane McCoy | 13/2 | Quarter-Finalist | 2005 | 2 | 2021 |
Group Stage
There are four groups each containing four teams, each of these groups being named Group A, B, C and D. The top two teams qualify for the quarter-finals, while the bottom placed teams in each group proceed to a relegation play-off to determine who will be relegated.
The draw for the group stage was conducted on 19 January 2026, and the fixtures for those group games were finalised on 18 June 2026.
Group A
Advance to knockout stage Advance to relegation play-off
| Team | Matches | Score | Pts | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | For | Against | Diff | ||
| Summerhill |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 28 | +22 | 4 |
| Rathkenny |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 24 | +19 | 3 |
| St. Peter's Dunboyne |
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 34 | 50 | -16 | 1 |
| Kilbride |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 43 | -25 | 0 |
Round 1
| 6 August 2026 Round 1 | Summerhill |
1-14 (17) – (11) 1-08 | Kilbride |
Dunganny | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:30 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0-05 – 1-07) | ||||
Pts: Liam Shaw 0-5, Conor Frayne 1-1, Barry Dardis 0-2, Seán Muddioman 0-2, David Larkin 0-1, Eoghan Frayne 0-1, Padraig Geraghty 0-1 |
Report | Pts: David O'Leary 0-5, Josh Hartford 1-0, James Gavin 0-1, Adam Malone 0-1 |
Referee: Andrew Smith (Dunshaughlin)
|
| 6 August 2026 Round 1 | Rathkenny |
1-14 (17) – (17) 1-14 | St Peter's Dunboyne |
Dunsany | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:30 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 1-06 – 1-04) | ||||
Pts: Keith Curtis 0-8 (3tpf), Luke Kealy 1-0, Joey Curtis 0-2, Donal Keogan 0-1, Ciarán O'Hare 0-1, Robert Garry 0-1, Cummins Fuller 0-1 |
Report | Pts: Charlie Gallagher 0-7 (1f, 2tpf, 1tp), Seán Delaney 0-5 (2tp), Mark Furlong 1-0, Ciarán McCormack 0-1, John Harkin 0-1 |
Referee: Patrick Coyle (Curraha)
|
Round 2
| 20 August 2026 Round 2 | Kilbride |
1-04 (7) – (26) 1-23 | Rathkenny |
Duleek | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:30 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0-01 – 1-10) | ||||
Pts: David O'Leary 1-1 (1f), Luke Faherty 0-2 (1f, 1'45), Josh Harford 0-1 (f) |
Report | Pts: Keith Curtis 0-9 (5f, 1tpf, 1'45), Luke Kealy 0-6, Ciarán O'Hare 1-2, Joey Curtis 0-3, Christy Meade 0-1, Corbin Jenkinson 0-1, Davy Curtis 0-1 |
|
| 23 August 2026 Round 2 | St Peter's Dunboyne |
1-14 (17) – (33) 3-24 | Summerhill |
Dunganny | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14:00 IST (UTC+1) | |||||
|
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Round 3
| 6 September 2026 Round 3 | St Peter's Dunboyne |
v | Kilbride |
Ashbourne | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14:00 IST (UTC+1) | |||||
|
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| 6 September 2026 Round 3 | Summerhill |
v | Rathkenny |
Dunganny | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14:00 IST (UTC+1) | |||||
|
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Group B
Advance to knockout stage Advance to relegation play-off
| Team | Matches | Score | Pts | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | For | Against | Diff | ||
| Ratoath |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 23 | +30 | 4 |
| Trim |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 29 | 36 | -7 | 2 |
| Skryne |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 35 | 47 | -12 | 2 |
| Na Fianna |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 30 | 41 | -11 | 0 |
Round 1
| 7 August 2026 Round 1 | Ratoath |
4-17 (29) – (13) 0-13 | Skryne |
Dunshaughlin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:30 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 2-10 – 0-07) | ||||
Pts: Daithí McGowan 1-4 (1f), Bryan McMahon 2-0, Joey Wallace 1-0, Glen O'Reilly 0-3 (1tp), Adam Ducie 0-3 (1f), Cian Rogers 0-2, Oisín Kelly 0-2, Liam Kelly 0-1, Gavin McGowan 0-1, Eamon Wallace 0-1 |
Report | Pts: Darragh Campion 0-5 (2f, 1tp), Seán Smyth 0-2, Billy Smyth 0-2, Ian Davis 0-2 (tp), Shane Smyth 0-1, Pádraig Finnerty 0-1 |
Referee: Kieran Olwell (Moynalty)
|
| 8 August 2026 Round 1 | Na Fianna |
0-12 (12) – (19) 0-19 | Trim |
Summerhill | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0-05 – 0-09) | ||||
Pts: Daniel Queeney 0-5 (1tpf, 1tp, 1f), Ethan Devine 0-3 (1tp), Shane Jordan 0-2 (tp), Luke Kelly 0-1, Conor Downey 0-1 |
Report | Pts: Aaron Lynch 0-12 (3tpf, 1f, 1tp, 1'45), Tom Carmody 0-4 (1tp), Ciarán Caulfield 0-2, Eoin O'Connor 0-1 |
Referee: David Gough (Slane)
|
Round 2
| 21 August 2026 Round 2 | Trim |
0-10 (10) – (24) 3-15 | Ratoath |
Dunganny | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:30 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0-07 – 1-07) | ||||
Pts: Tom Carmody 0-4 (1tp), Aaron Lynch 0-4 (3f), Eoin O'Connor 0-1, Alan Douglas 0-1 |
Report | Pts: Daithi McGowan 1-2 (1tp), Eamon Wallace 0-4 (1tp), Cian Rogers 1-0, Bryan McMahon 1-0, Adam Ducie 0-3, Liam Kelly 0-1, Ben Wyer 0-1, Rob Hayes 0-1, Oisín Kelly 0-1, Glenn O'Reilly 0-1, Paddy White 0-1 |
|
| 22 August 2026 Round 2 | Skryne |
4-10 (22) – (18) 2-12 | Na Fianna |
Batterstown | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:30 IST (UTC+1) | |||||
|
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Round 3
| 4 September 2026 Round 3 | Ratoath |
v | Na Fianna |
Summerhill | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:00 IST (UTC+1) | |||||
|
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Group C
Advance to knockout stage Advance to relegation play-off
| Team | Matches | Score | Pts | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | For | Against | Diff | ||
| Wolfe Tones |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 27 | +22 | 4 |
| St. Colmcille's |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 44 | 48 | -4 | 2 |
| Ballinabrackey |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 28 | 41 | -13 | 2 |
| Seneschalstown |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 40 | 45 | -5 | 0 |
Round 1
| 7 August 2026 Round 1 | Wolfe Tones |
1-19 (22) – (7) 0-07 | Ballinabrackey |
Dunganny | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:30 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0-08 – 0-07) | ||||
Pts: Tom Gavigan 1-2, Caolan Ward 0-4 (3f), Saran Ó Fionnagain 0-3, Eoin Donegan 0-2 (tp), Thomas O'Reilly 0-2 (2f), Kyle Moran 0-2, Ben Reilly 0-1, Shane McKeever 0-1, Adam O'Neill 0-1, Seán Penny 0-1 |
Report | Pts: Niall Smullen 0-4 (2tp), Damien Carroll 0-3 (1tp) |
Referee: Derek Ryan (Na Fianna)
|
| 8 August 2026 Round 1 | Seneschalstown |
1-18 (21) – (24) 2-18 | St Colmcille's |
Donore | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:30 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 1-08 – 1-10) | ||||
Pts: Cian Commons 0-7 (1tp, 1tpf, 2f), Alan Mulvany 0-5 (2tp), Cathal Hickey 0-4 (1tp), Darren O'Brien 1-0, Dylan Keating 0-1, Éamon Finnegan 0-1 |
Report | Pts: Cormac O'Donoghue 2-2, James Conlon 0-8 (4f), Liam Stafford 0-3, Ben Brennan 0-2, Ruairí O'Grady 0-1, Kyle O'Brien 0-1, Andrew Beakey 0-1 ('45) |
Referee: Cormac Reilly (St Mary's)
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Round 2
| 21 August 2026 Round 2 | St Colmcille's |
3-11 (20) – (27) 2-21 | Wolfe Tones |
Senschalstown | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:30 IST (UTC+1) | |||||
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| 23 August 2026 Round 2 | Ballinabrackey |
2-15 (21) – (19) 2-13 | Seneschalstown |
Trim | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16:00 IST (UTC+1) | |||||
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Round 3
| 5 September 2026 Round 3 | Ballinabrackey |
v | St Colmcille's |
Dunsany | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18:00 IST (UTC+1) | |||||
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| 5 September 2026 Round 3 | Seneschalstown |
v | Wolfe Tones |
Rathkenny | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18:00 IST (UTC+1) | |||||
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Group D
Advance to knockout stage Advance to relegation play-off
| Team | Matches | Score | Pts | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | For | Against | Diff | ||
| Gaeil Colmcille |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 20 | +22 | 4 |
| Donaghmore/ Ashbourne |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 36 | 30 | +6 | 2 |
| Dunshaughlin |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 44 | 42 | +2 | 2 |
| Simonstown Gaels |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 26 | 56 | -30 | 0 |
Round 1
| 8 August 2026 Round 1 | Donaghmore/Ashbourne |
1-09 (12) – (13) 0-13 | Gaeil Colmcille |
Walterstown | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0-05 – 0-07) | ||||
| Report | Referee: Robert Purfield (St Patrick's)
|
| 8 August 2026 Round 1 | Simonstown Gaels |
2-12 (18) – (27) 0-27 | Dunshaughlin |
Dunganny | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:30 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 1-04 – 0-13) | ||||
Pts: Shane McEnery 0-7, Ben Hoey 2-0 Nathan Reilly 0-2, Padraig McKeever 0-1, Will Byrne 0-1, Niall Kane 0-1 |
Report | Pts: Aaron Murphy 0-12, Conor Duke 0-7, Mathew Costello 0-2, Colm Keane 0-2, Jon McDonagh 0-2, Tadhg Ó Duslaine 0-1, Conor Gray 0-1 |
Referee: David Coldrick (Blackhall Gaels)
|
Round 2
| 20 August 2026 Round 2 | Dunshaughlin |
1-14 (17) – (24) 1-21 | Donaghmore/Ashbourne |
Ratoath | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:30 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0-07 – 0-15) | ||||
Pts: Mathew Costello 0-5 (1tp), Charlie O'Connor 0-4 (1tp), Luke Mitchell 1-0, Aaron Murphy 0-3 (1f), Fursey Blake 0-1, Conor Duke 0-1 |
Report | Pts: Evan Kelly 1-1, Andy Tormey 0-4 (3f), Darragh McGovern 0-3 (1tp), Bryan Menton 0-3 (1tp), Stephen Carton 0-3, Zach Thornton 0-2 (tp), Kevin Cully 0-2 (tp), Seán Tyrrell 0-1, Conor Carton 0-1, Thomas McGovern 0-1 |
|
| 22 August 2026 Round 2 | Gaeil Colmcille |
4-17 (29) – (8) 1-05 | Simonstown Gaels |
Martry | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 2-08 – 0-02) | ||||
Pts: Charlie Twomey 1-5, Andrew Gormley 0-6 (1f, 2tpf, 1tp), Evan Sheridan 1-1, Liam Ferguson 1-0, John Gormley 1-0, Barry Farrelly 0-2 (tpf), Harry Butler 0-1, Liam Barry 0-1 |
Report | Pts: Ben Hoey 1-0 (pen), Niall Kane 0-2, Padraig McKeever 0-2 (1f), Will Byrne 0-1 |
|
Round 3
| 6 September 2026 Round 3 | Dunshaughlin |
v | Gaeil Colmcille |
Dunganny | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16:00 IST (UTC+1) | |||||
|
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| 6 September 2026 Round 3 | Donaghmore/Ashbourne |
v | Simonstown Gaels |
Skryne | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16:00 IST (UTC+1) | |||||
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Relegation Play-off
The relegation play-off will consist of the 4th placed teams from each group. The winners of each playoff retain their senior status while the outright loser will be relegated to the Intermediate Championship for 2027.
Relegation Semi-Finals
| 19/20 September 2026 Relegation Semi-Final | 4th Placed Team | v | 4th Placed Team | ||
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| 19/20 September 2026 Relegation Semi-Final | 4th Placed Team | v | 4th Placed Team | ||
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Relegation Final
| 3/4 October 2026 Relegation Final | Relegation Semi-Final Loser | v | Relegation Semi-Final Loser | ||
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Knock-out Stage
The 1st and 2nd placed teams in each group will qualify for the quarter-finals. One 1st placed team will be drawn against a 2nd placed team in each pair with no repeats from the group stage.
Quarter-Finals
| 19/20 September 2026 Quarter-Final | Group Winner | v | 2nd Placed Team | ||
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| 19/20 September 2026 Quarter-Final | Group Winner | v | 2nd Placed Team | ||
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| 19/20 September 2026 Quarter-Final | Group Winner | v | 2nd Placed Team | ||
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| 19/20 September 2026 Quarter-Final | Group Winner | v | 2nd Placed Team | ||
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Semi-Finals
| 3/4 October 2026 Semi-Final | Quarter-Final Winner | v | Quarter-Final Winner | ||
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| 3/4 October 2026 Semi-Final | Quarter-Final Winner | v | Quarter-Final Winner | ||
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Final
| 18 October 2026 Final | Semi-Final Winner | v | Semi-Final Winner | ||
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Leinster Senior Club Football Championship
References
- ↑ Keane, Paul. "Eoghan Frayne leads Summerhill to Meath SFC title over Ratoath". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
- ↑ "Surge of emotion greets Kilbride's return to the big time". Meath Chronicle. 2025-10-11. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
- ↑ "SFC relegation final: 'Cilles' send 'Hill' down - HoganStand". hoganstand.com. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
- ↑ "Football Championship draws - HoganStand". hoganstand.com. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
- ↑ GAA, Meath (2026-06-18). "Meath GAA Adult Championship Fixtures 2026 (Version 2 Released)". Meath G.A.A. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
- ↑ "IFC final: Fairytale complete as Kilbride return to the top tier". hoganstand.com. 11 October 2025. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
- ↑ "Cille's save their best for last to secure senior status". www.meathchronicle.ie. 26 September 2025. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
