2002 Meath Senior Football Championship
The 2002 Meath Senior Football Championship was the 110th edition of the Meath GAA's premier club Gaelic football tournament for senior graded teams in Meath, Ireland">Meath GAA">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.
Dunshaughlin were the defending champions after they defeated Skryne in the previous years final, and in October 2002, they successfully defended their title with a 1–11 to 2–6 win over Trim to claim their 3rd Senior Championship title in a row and 3rd in all. Kenny McTigue raised the Keegan Cup while David Crimmins scooped the 'Man of the Match' award.
Blackhall Gaels were promoted after claiming the 2001 Meath Intermediate Football Championship title, their second Intermediate win.
Oldcastle were relegated after 15 years in the senior grade.
On 22 December 2002, Dunshaughlin claimed their first Leinster SCFC title by defeating Mattock Rangers of Louth 0–13 to 0–7.
Team changes
The following teams have changed division since the 2001 championship season.To S.F.C.
Promoted from I.F.C.From S.F.C.
Relegated to I.F.C.- Navan O'Mahonys
- Syddan
Participating Teams
The teams competing in the 2002 Meath Senior Championship are:| Club | Location | 2001 Championship Position | 2002 Championship Position |
| Ballinlough | Ballinlough & Kilskyre | Relegation Finalist | Non Qualifier |
| Blackhall Gaels | Batterstown & Kilcloon | I.F.C Champions | Quarter-Finalist |
| Cortown | Cortown | Quarter-Finalist | Relegation Semi-Finalist |
| Dunderry | Dunderry & Robinstown | Semi-Finalist | Relegation Semi-Finalist |
| Dunshaughlin | Dunshaughlin & Drumree | Champions | Champions |
| Gaeil Colmcille | Kells | Non Qualifier | Non Qualifier |
| Kilmainhamwood | Kilmainhamwood | Quarter-Finalist | Preliminary Relegation Play Off |
| Oldcastle | Oldcastle | Quarter-Finalist | Relegated to I.F.C |
| Seneschalstown | Kentstown & Yellow Furze | Non Qualifier | Semi-Finalist |
| Simonstown Gaels | Navan | Non Qualifier | Quarter-Finalist |
| Skryne | Skryne & Tara | Finalist | Quarter-Finalist |
| St. Patrick's | Stamullen & Julianstown | Non Qualifier | Non Qualifier |
| St Peters [Dunboyne GAA|St. Peter's Dunboyne] | Dunboyne | Non Qualifier | Semi-Finalist |
| Summerhill | Summerhill | Relegation Finalist | Relegation Finalist |
| Trim | Trim | Quarter-Finalist | Finalist |
| Walterstown | Navan | Semi-Finalist | Quarter-Finalist |
Group stage
There are 4 groups called Group A,B,C and D. The 2 top finishers in each Group will qualify for the quarter finals. The team that finish last in their groups will play in a relegation play off. In the event of two teams being level on points and only one qualification spot available, a playoff will be played to determine final placings.Group A
| Team | ||||||||
| Simonstown Gaels | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 36 | 31 | +5 | 4 |
| Ballinlough | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 34 | 33 | +1 | 3 |
| Blackhall Gaels | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 29 | 33 | -4 | 3 |
| Dunderry | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 98 | 79 | +19 | 1 |
Round 1:Blackhall Gaels 0-11, 1-7 Ballinlough, Simonstown,
- Simonstown Gaels 0–12, 1-9 Dunderry,
- Blackhall Gaels 0–11, 1-8 Dunderry, Dunsany,
- Simonstown Gaels 2–6, 1-9 Ballinlough,
Quarter-final playoff:Blackhall Gaels 1-10, 0-6 Ballinlough, Simonstown, 28/8/2002,
Group B
| Team | ||||||||
| Trim | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 51 | 44 | +7 | 4 |
| Skryne | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 41 | 37 | +4 | 4 |
| Cortown | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 47 | -10 | 2 |
| Kilmainhamwood | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 36 | 47 | -11 | 2 |
Round 1:Skryne 1-15, 0-7 Kilmainhamwood,Trim 1-13, 0-13 Cortown,
Round 2:Skryne 2-13, 2-5 Cortown,Kilmainhamwood 1-14, 2-10 Trim,
Round 3:Trim 2-13, 1-11 Skryne, Cortown 1-10, 1-9 Kilmainhamwood,
Preliminary Relegation Playoff:Kilmainhamwood 3-9, 0-6 Cortown,
Group C
| Team | ||||||||
| Seneschalstown | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 46 | 25 | +21 | 5 |
| Walterstown | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 37 | 34 | +3 | 5 |
| St. Patrick's | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 38 | 45 | -7 | 2 |
| Oldcastle | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 24 | 41 | -17 | 0 |
Round 1:Seneschalstown 3-3, 1-3 Oldcastle, Martry,Walterstown 2-8, 1-10 St. Patrick's,
Round 2:Seneschalstown 5-10, 0-10 St. Patrick's, Duleek,Walterstown 2-8, 0-12 Oldcastle,
Round 3:
- Seneschalstown 0–9, 0-9 Walterstown, Skryne, St. Patrick's 1-12, 0-6 Oldcastle,
Group D
| Team | ||||||||
| Dunshaughlin | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 35 | 22 | +13 | 4 |
| St Peters Dunboyne | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 30 | 34 | -4 | 3 |
| Gaeil Colmcille | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 26 | 32 | -6 | 3 |
| Summerhill | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 39 | 42 | -3 | 2 |
Round 1:Dunshaughlin 3-12, 0-8 Summerhill, Dunsany,Gaeil Colmcille 1-10, 0-8 St. Peter's Dunboyne, Pairc Tailteann,
Round 2:
- Dunshaughlin 0–8, 0-8 St. Peter's Dunboyne, Skryne,Summerhill 2-12, 1-4 Gaeil Colmcille,
- Dunshaughlin 0–6, 0-6 Gaeil Colmcille, Simonstown,
Knock-out Stage
Relegation playoff
Relegation Semi-finals:Dunderry 2-9, 0-10 Oldcastle, Kells, 31/8/2002,Cortown 1-7, 0-9 Summerhill,Relegation Final:Summerhill 1-6, 0-6 Oldcastle, Kells
Finals
Quarter-final:Seneschalstown 1-10, 0-17 Skryne, Pairc Tailteann, 30/8/2002,Trim 3-9, 1-13 Walterstown, Dunsany, 31/8/2002,- Blackhall Gaels 2–10, 2-8 Dunshaughlin, Dunboyne, 1/9/2002, St. Peter's Dunboyne 1-10, 0-10 Simonstown Gaels, Skryne, 1/9/2002,
Semi-final:Trim 2-8, 1-9 St. Peter's Dunboyne, Pairc Tailteann, 27/10/2002,Dunshaughlin 0-10, 1-4 Seneschalstown, Pairc Tailteann, 27/10/2002,
Final:Dunshaughlin 1-11, 2-6 Trim, Pairc Tailteann, 10/11/2002,
In their quarter-final playoff tie with Ballinlough, Blackhall Gaels had Anthony Moyles sent off controversially with a straight red card. Just five days later, Moyles lined out in the Quarter-final against Dunshaughlin. He played despite being given a directive that he was ineligible to line out despite referee Dudley Farrell admitting that he sent the player off in the wrong.
After losing the tie, Dunshaughlin lodged a successful appeal and progressed to the Semi-finals at the expense of Blackhall. An objection to Leinster Council by the Kilcloon/Batterstown club was lost although the 24 weeks suspension, which was given to Meath county star Moyles, was lifted. When Blackhall Gaels club threatened to take their case to a higher court, the Meath County Board put a proposal to the two sides that the game be ’replayed.’ Both clubs sportingly agreed and the replay finally took place 42 days after the original fixture.
Leinster Senior Club Football Championship
Quarter-final:- Dunshaughlin 1-11, 0-2 Rathvilly,
- Dunshaughlin 0–12, 1-9 Rathnew,
Final:Dunshaughlin 0-13, 1-7 Mattock Rangers,