2021 Meath Intermediate Football Championship

The 2021 Meath Intermediate Football Championship is the 95th edition of the Meath GAA's premier club Gaelic football tournament for Intermediate graded teams in County Meath, Ireland. The tournament consists of 20 teams and starts with a group stage before progressing to a knock out stage. The winner will[needs update] represent Meath in the Leinster Intermediate Club Football Championship.

Ballinabrackey were the 2020 Meath Intermediate Football Champions after they defeated Trim in the final. As a result, they will[needs update] compete in the 2021 Meath Senior Football Championship.

Nobber were relegated from the Senior Football Championship in 2020 after just one season in the Senior Football Championship. Ballivor returned to the I.F.C. for the first time since 2017 after beating St. Vincent's in the 2020 Meath Junior Football Championship final. Castletown were relegated to the 2021 Meath Junior Football Championship. They will[needs update] play at the junior grade for the first time in their history.

The draw for the group stages of the championship took place on 20 June 2021 with the games commencing on 13 August 2021.

Championship structure

The championship will[needs update] consist of five groups with each containing four teams. The top two teams in each group will[needs update] progress to the knockout stages while the bottom team in each group will[needs update] contest the relegation playoffs.[citation needed]

Team changes

The following teams changed division since the 2020 championship season:[citation needed]

From I.F.C. Promoted to 2021 S.F.C. Ballinabrackey - (Intermediate Champions) Relegated to 2021 Meath Junior Football Championship Castletown

To I.F.C. Relegated from 2020 S.F.C. Nobber Promoted from 2020 J.F.C. Ballivor - (Junior 'A' Champions)

Participating teams

The teams taking part in the 2021 Meath Intermediate Football Championship are:

Club	Location	2020 Championship Position	2021 Championship Position
Ballinlough	Ballinlough & Kilskyre	Relegation Playoff	Relegated to 2022 JFC
Ballivor	Ballivor	Junior 'A' Champions	Preliminary Quarter-Finalist
Bective	Navan	Non Qualifier	Non Qualifier
Blackhall Gaels	Batterstown and Kilcloon	Non Qualifier	Quarter-Finalist
Clann na nGael	Athboy and Rath Cairn	Quarter-Finalist	Preliminary Quarter-Finalist
Drumbaragh Emmets	Drumbaragh, Kells	Relegation Playoff	Non Qualifier
Duleek/Bellewstown	Duleek & Bellewstown	Non-Qualifier	Quarter-Finalist
Dunderry	Dunderry	Non-Qualifier	Quarter-Finalist
Kilmainham	Kilmainham, Kells	Semi-Finalist	Relegation Playoff
Longwood	Longwood	Non-Qualifier	Non Qualifier
Meath Hill	Meath Hill	Non-Qualifier	Non Qualifier
Moylagh	Moylagh	Non-Qualifier	Relegated to 2022 JFC
Nobber	Nobber	Relegated from 2020 SFC	Quarter-Finalist
Oldcastle	Oldcastle	Relegation Playoff	Finalists
Rathkenny	Rathkenny & Stackallan	Non-Qualifier	Semi-Finalist
St. Michael's	Carlanstown & Kilbeg	Semi-Finalist	Non Qualifier
St. Patrick's	Stamullen	Relegation Playoff	Relegation Playoff
Syddan	Lobinstown	Non Qualifier	Relegated to 2022 JFC
Trim	St Lomans Park, Trim	Finalists	Champions
Walterstown	Johnstown	Non-Qualifier	Semi-Finalist

Group stage

There are five groups of four teams called Group A, B, C, D and E. The 1st placed teams in each group along with the 2nd placed team in group A automatically qualify for the quarter-finals. The 2nd placed teams in Groups B, C, D & E qualify for the preliminary Quarter-finals with the winners progressing to the quarter-finals.

Three teams will[needs update] be relegated from IFC to JFC in both 2021 and 2022 in order to bring the IFC from 20 teams to 16 teams. In 2021, the last placed teams in each group (five teams in total) will[needs update] be entered into an open draw to contest the relegation playoffs as follows:

1 v 2
Winner of 1v2 will[needs update] play 3
4 v 5

The loser of each playoff game will[needs update] be relegated to the 2022 JFC while two teams will[needs update] preserve their intermediate status.[citation needed]

Tiebreakers: If two or more teams were equal on points on completion of the group matches, the following tie-breaking criteria would be applied:

All Football Championships and Leagues shall be run on a combination of a league and knockout basis under Rule 6.21 T.O. Where teams finish equal with points for qualification or relegation process for concluding stages, the positioning shall be decided as follows;

(i) Where three teams are involved - the outcome of the meetings of the three teams in their previous games in the competition. If three teams finish level on points for three places and one team has beaten the other two teams that team qualifies in first place and other places are determined by the specified order. If there are two positions and one team has beaten the other two teams that team qualifies and the second place is determined by the specified order. If there is one position and one team has beaten the other two team that team qualifies;
(ii) Where two teams are involved - the outcome of the meeting of the two teams in the previous game in the competition;
(iii) Scoring Difference;
(iv) Highest total scores for;
(v) A play-off.

Group A

Team	Pld	W	L	D	PF	PA	PD	Pts
Team Pld W L D PF PA PD Pts Blackhall Gaels 3 2 1 0 37 33 +4 4 Nobber 3 2 1 0 52 38 +14 4 Bective 3 1 1 1 40 45 -5 3 St. Patrick's 3 0 2 1 38 51 -13 1	Round 1 Nobber 1-7, 1-10 Blackhall Gaels, Trim, 13/8/2021 St. Patrick's 2-9, 2-9 Bective, Duleek, 15/8/2021 Round 2 Blackhall Gaels 0-12, 0-9 St. Patrick's, Kilbride, 28/8/2021 Bective 1-8, 2-12 Nobber, Bective, 28/8/2021 Round 3 Bective 1-11, 1-9 Blackhall Gaels, Summerhill, 12/9/2021 Nobber 3-15, 1-11 St. Patrick's, Seneschalstown, 12/9/2021
Blackhall Gaels	3	2	1	0	37	33	+4	4
Nobber	3	2	1	0	52	38	+14	4
Bective	3	1	1	1	40	45	-5	3
St. Patrick's	3	0	2	1	38	51	-13	1

Group B

Team	Pld	W	L	D	PF	PA	PD	Pts
Team Pld W L D PF PA PD Pts Trim 3 3 0 0 66 35 +31 6 Clann na nGael 3 2 1 0 47 43 +4 4 Longwood 3 1 2 0 49 58 -9 2 Moylagh 3 0 3 0 29 55 -26 0	Round 1 Clann na nGael 3-14, 0-14 Longwood, Clonard, 24/8/2021 Trim 2-18, 0-7 Moylagh, Cortown, 15/8/2021, Round 2 Longwood 1-11, 2-16 Trim, Boardsmill, 29/8/2021 Moylagh 1-6, 1-7 Clann na nGael, Ballinlough, 29/8/2021 Round 3 Moylagh 1-10, 2-15 Longwood, Kildalkey, 12/9/2021 Clann na nGael 2-8, 3-11 Trim, Páirc Tailteann, 12/9/2021
Trim	3	3	0	0	66	35	+31	6
Clann na nGael	3	2	1	0	47	43	+4	4
Longwood	3	1	2	0	49	58	-9	2
Moylagh	3	0	3	0	29	55	-26	0

Group C

Team	Pld	W	L	D	PF	PA	PD	Pts
Team Pld W L D PF PA PD Pts Oldcastle 3 2 0 1 58 46 +12 5 Walterstown 3 2 0 1 58 47 +11 5 Meath Hill 3 1 2 0 53 47 -4 2 Syddan 3 0 3 0 43 62 -19 0	Round 1 Walterstown 0-17, 1-9 Syddan, Castletown, 13/8/2021 Oldcastle 2-10, 1-12 Meath Hill, Pairc Tailteann, 15/8/2021 Round 2 Oldcastle 3-14, 1-9 Syddan, Moynalty, 27/8/2021 Walterstown 2-16, 1-13 Meath Hill, Nobber, 28/8/2021 Round 3 Oldcastle 2-13, 1-16 Walterstown, Kilmainham, 12/9/2021 Syddan 3-10, 2-16 Meath Hill, Drumconrath, 12/9/2021
Oldcastle	3	2	0	1	58	46	+12	5
Walterstown	3	2	0	1	58	47	+11	5
Meath Hill	3	1	2	0	53	47	-4	2
Syddan	3	0	3	0	43	62	-19	0

Group D

Team	Pld	W	L	D	PF	PA	PD	Pts
Team Pld W L D PF PA PD Pts Duleek/Bellewstown 3 3 0 0 80 41 +39 6 Ballivor 3 2 1 0 62 46 +16 4 Drumbaragh Emmets 3 0 2 1 52 71 -19 1 Kilmainham 3 0 2 1 40 76 -36 1	Round 1 Ballivor 2-20, 1-14 Drumbaragh, Bohermeen, 15/8/2021 Duleek/Bellewstown 6-16, 0-12 Kilmainham, Ardcath, 19/8/2021 Round 2 Drumbaragh 3-10, 2-13 Kilmainham, Páirc Tailteann, 28/8/2021 Duleek/Bellewstown 2-14, 0-13 Ballivor, Bective, 29/8/2021 Round 3 Duleek/Bellewstown 2-20, 2-10 Drumbaragh, Simonstown, 10/9/2021 Ballivor -vs- Kilmainham, Cortown, 10/9/2021
Duleek/Bellewstown	3	3	0	0	80	41	+39	6
Ballivor	3	2	1	0	62	46	+16	4
Drumbaragh Emmets	3	0	2	1	52	71	-19	1
Kilmainham	3	0	2	1	40	76	-36	1

Group E

Team	Pld	W	L	D	PF	PA	PD	Pts
Team Pld W L D PF PA PD Pts Rathkenny 3 3 0 0 50 28 +22 6 Dunderry 3 2 1 0 46 35 +11 4 St. Michael's 3 1 2 0 26 50 -24 2 Ballinlough 3 0 3 0 37 46 -9 0	Round 1 Rathkenny 0-13, 1-5 Dunderry, Walterstown, 14/8/2021 St. Michael's 0-11, 0-10 Ballinlough, Martry, 15/8/2021 Round 2 Ballinlough 1-10, 1-13 Rathkenny, Kilmainhamwood, 28/8/2021 Dunderry 1-16, 0-8 St. Michael's, Kilmainham, 29/8/2021 Round 3 Dunderry 2-13, 1-11 Ballinlough, Bohermeen, 12/9/2021 St. Michael's 0-7, 2-15 Rathkenny, Nobber, 12/9/2021
Rathkenny	3	3	0	0	50	28	+22	6
Dunderry	3	2	1	0	46	35	+11	4
St. Michael's	3	1	2	0	26	50	-24	2
Ballinlough	3	0	3	0	37	46	-9	0

Knock-out stage

The 1st placed teams each group and the 2nd placed team in Group A qualify for the quarter-finals. The 2nd places teams in Groups B, C, D and E qualify for the preliminary Quarter-finals with the winners progressing to the quarter-finals.

Preliminary quarter-finals

Quarter-Finals

Semi-Finals

Final

Clann na nGael

1-11

Walterstown

1-13

Blackhall Gaels

0-5

Walterstown

2-14

Walterstown

2-6

Ballivor

1-6

Trim

1-14

Dunderry

1-9

Trim

4-18

Dunderry

0-8

Trim

3-12

Oldcastle

0-7

Nobber

1-10

Oldcastle

4-8

Oldcastle

0-12

Rathkenny

0-8

Duleek/Bellewstown

0-9

Rathkenny

1-16

Preliminary quarter-finals

25 September 2021(2021-09-25) Preliminary Quarter-final 1	Clann na nGael	1-11 (14) – (16) 1-13	Walterstown	Navan
15:15 IST (UTC+1)				Venue: Páirc Tailteann
				Referee: Stephen Dawson

26 September 2021(2021-09-26) Preliminary Quarter-final 2	Ballivor	1-6 (9) – (12) 1-9	Dunderry	Trim
16:00 IST (UTC+1)
				Referee: Owen Ganly

Quarter-finals

9 October 2021(2021-10-09) Quarter-final 1	Walterstown	2-14 (20) – (5) 0-5	Blackhall Gaels	Ratoath
16:30 IST (UTC+1)		(HT: 0-4 - 0-2)		Venue: Seán Eiffe Park
				Referee: Patrick Coyle

10 October 2021(2021-10-10) Quarter-final 2	Dunderry	0-8 (8) – (30) 4-18	Trim	Navan
13:45 IST (UTC+1)		(HT: 0-5 - 1-9)		Venue: Páirc Tailteann
				Referee: Padraic Coyle

9 October 2021(2021-10-09) Quarter-final 3	Nobber	1-10 (13) – (20) 4-8	Oldcastle	Ballinlough
17:00 IST (UTC+1)		(HT: 1-6 - 2-4)
				Referee: Kieran Olwell

10 October 2021(2021-10-10) Quarter-final 4	Duleek/Bellewstown	0-9 (9) – (19) 1-16	Rathkenny	Slane
11:30 IST (UTC+1)		(HT: 0-9 - 0-5)
				Referee: Stephen Dawson

Semi-finals

25 October 2021(2021-10-25) Semi-final 1	Walterstown	2-6 (12) – (17) 1-14	Trim	Navan
13:00 IST (UTC+1)		(HT: 2-4 - 1-8)		Venue: Páirc Tailteann
				Referee: Cormac Reilly

25 October 2021(2021-10-25) Semi-final 2	Oldcastle	0-12 (12) – (8) 0-8	Rathkenny	Navan
15:00 IST (UTC+1)		(HT: 0-7 - 0-2)		Venue: Páirc Tailteann
				Referee: Padraic Coyle

Final

6 November 2021(2021-11-06) Final	Trim	3-12 (21) – (7) 0-7	Oldcastle	Navan
14:45 GMT (UTC)		(HT: 2-4 - 0-5)		Venue: Páirc Tailteann
	Gls: Aaron Lynch, Eoin O'Connor, Declan Dowling (1 each) Pts: Aaron Lynch (5), Alan Douglas (2), Eoin O'Connor, James Toher, Rob Bourke, Ciaran Caulfield, Daire Lynch (1 each)		Pts: Robert Farrelly (3), CJ Healy (2), Garrett O'Reilly, Patrick Rahill (1 each)	Referee: Keith Sheerin

Relegation play-off

Three teams were relegated from the 2021 IFC. The 4th placed teams in each group contested the relegation playoffs. Each team was entered into an open draw which consists of three games. The loser of each game was relegated to the 2022 JFC while the winners of Relegation play-offs 2 & 3 preserved their intermediate status.

Relegation play-off matches

10 October 2021(2021-10-10) Relegation Play-Off 1	St. Patrick's	0-14 (14) – (8) 0-8	Ballinlough	Seneschalstown
13:00 IST (UTC+1)		(HT: 0-8 - 0-2)
				Referee: Patrick Clarke

23 October 2021(2021-10-23) Relegation Play-Off 2	St. Patrick's	2-13 (19) – (3) 0-3	Moylagh	Walterstown
16:00 IST (UTC+1)		(HT: 1-7 - 0-1)
				Referee: Keith Sheeran

22 October 2021(2021-10-22) Relegation Play-Off 3	Kilmainham	2-6 (12) – (10) 0-10	Syddan	Moynalty
20:00 IST (UTC+1)		(HT: 1-4 - 0-6)
				Referee: Andrew Smith