2009 Meath Senior Football Championship


The 2009 Meath Senior Football Championship was the 117th edition of the Meath GAA's premier club Gaelic football tournament for senior graded teams in County Meath, Ireland. The tournament consists of 16 teams, with the winner going on to represent Meath in the Leinster Senior Club Football Championship. The championship starts with a group stage and then progresses to a knock out stage.
Navan O'Mahonys were the defending champions after they defeated Summerhillin the previous years final.
St. Ultan's were promoted after claiming the 2008 Meath Intermediate Football Championship title, their first ever year in the senior grade.
On 26 September 2009, Seneschalstown claimed their 4th Senior Championship title when they defeated Wolfe Tones 2-8 to 1-8 after a replay. Ciaran Macken lifted the Keegan Cup for the Yellow Furze outfit while Damien Sheridan claimed the 'Man of the Match' award.
After much controversy no team was relegated from the senior grade. Walterstown lost their relegation tie after extra time to Rathkenny, but appealed for a re-fixture on the basis that extra time wasn't agreed beforehand. When Rathkenny refused to fulfill a re-fixture no team was relegated and the Intermediate Champions Oldcastle became the 17th team in the Senior Football Championship.

Team changes

The following teams have changed division since the 2008 championship season.

To S.F.C.

Promoted from I.F.C.
Relegated to I.F.C.
The teams taking part in the 2009 Meath Senior Football Championship are:
ClubLocation2009 Championship Position
Blackhall GaelsBatterstownNon Qualifier
Donaghmore/AshbourneAshbourneNon Qualifier
Duleek/BellewstownDuleekRelegation Play Off
DunshaughlinDunshaughlinQuarter Finalist
Navan O'MahonysNavanSemi Finalist
RathkennyRathkennyRelegation Play Off
SeneschalstownKentstownChampions
Simonstown GaelsNavanNon Qualifier
SkryneSkryneQuarter Finalist
St PatricksStamullenQuarter Finalist
St Peters DunboyneDunboyneQuarter Finalist
St UltansBohermeenNon Qualifier
SummerhillSummerhillSemi Finalist
TrimTrimNon Qualifier
WalterstownNavanRelegation Play Off
Wolfe TonesDonaghpatrickFinalist

Group stage

There are 3 groups called Group A, B and C. The 3 top finishers in Group A and the top 2 finishers in Group B and C will qualify for the quarter finals. Third place in Group B will play third place in Group C for a quarter finals place. The 3 teams that finish last in their groups will play in a round-robin relegation play off. Dunshaughlin defeated Blackhall Gaels in the preliminary quarter finals to qualify in 2009.

Group A

Team
Navan O'Mahonys53116745+227
St Patricks52126467-36
Seneschalstown52217063+75
Simonstown Gaels52217973+65
Donaghmore Ashbourne52305562-74
Duleek/Bellewstown51315580-253

Round 1:
Round 2:
Round 3:
Round 4:
Round 5:
Team
Skryne44006141+208
St Peters Dunboyne42115651+55
Blackhall Gaels42204351-84
St Ultans41215854+43
Walterstown40404364-210

Round 1:
Round 2:
Round 3:
Round 4:
Round 5:
Team
Wolfe Tones44006341+228
Summerhill43105644+126
Dunshaughlin42205456-24
Trim41306054+62
Rathkenny40402866-380

Round 1:
Round 2:
Round 3:
Round 4:
Round 5:

Relegation Play Off

Team
Rathkenny00000000
Duleek/Bellewstown00000000
Walterstown00000000

In the relegation match between Rathkenny and Walterstown, Rathkenny won the original match, but Walterstown appealed the result on the basis that the playing of extra-time had not been agreed beforehand. The Leinster Council ruled in their favour at a subsequent appeal, throwing the championship into chaos. Rathkenny wouldn't fulfill a re-fixture so that meant no teams were relegated in 2009, but instead an extra team was added to the Senior Football Championship, bringing the total number of teams from 16 to 17.

Finals

Preliminary Quarter-Finals
Quarter-Finals
Semi-Finals
Final
Final Replay