2023 Meath Intermediate Football Championship


The 2023 Meath Intermediate Football Championship was the 97th edition of the Meath GAA's premier club Gaelic football tournament for Intermediate graded teams in County Meath, Ireland. The tournament consisted of 16 teams and started with a group stage before progressing to a knock out stage. Rathkenny won and represented Meath in the Leinster Intermediate Club Football Championship.
Dunshaughlin were the 2022 Meath Intermediate Football Champions after they defeated Duleek/Bellewstown by 0-17 to 0-07 in the final. After having being relegated from the Meath Senior Football Championship in 2021, they will return to the senior ranks after a year in the Intermediate Championship.
Navan O'Mahonys were relegated from the Senior Football Championship in 2022 after playing in the Senior Football Championship since 2004 and winning four Meath Senior Football Championships within that time. Castletown were promoted to the I.F.C. after defeating Dunsany 1-12 to 0-11 in the Meath Junior Football Championship. Clann na nGael, Kilmainham and St. Vincent's were relegated to the 2023 Meath Junior Football Championship.
The draws for the group stages of the championship took place on 24 April 2023 with the games commencing on 28 July 2023.
On 7 October 2023, Rathkenny claimed their third I.F.C title and secured their return to the senior ranks for the first time since 2019 when defeating Duleek/Bellewstown 1-18 to 2-14 in the final.
Dunderry were relegated to the Meath Junior Football Championship after losing to Longwood in the relegation play-off final.

Championship structure

The 2023 Meath I.F.C. consisted of 16 teams drawn into four groups each containing four teams. The top two teams progressed to the quarter-finals, while the bottom two in each group contested the Relegation Quarter-Finals. The losers of each Relegation Quarter-Final then contested the Relegation Semi-Finals, the losers of which would play-off for the right to retain their intermediate status into 2025.

Team changes

The following teams have changed division since the 2022 championship season.

From I.F.C.

Promoted to 2023 S.F.C.
  • Dunshaughlin -
Relegated to 2023 Meath Junior Football Championship
  • Clann na nGael
  • Kilmainham
  • St. Vincent's

    To I.F.C.

Relegated from 2022 S.F.C.
Promoted from 2022 J.F.C.
  • Castletown -

    Participating teams

The teams taking part in the 2023 Meath Intermediate Football Championship were:
ClubLocationManagement2022 Championship Position2023 Championship Position
BallivorBallivorNon-QualifierQuarter-Finalist
BectiveNavanDavid NolanNon-QualifierRelegation Semi-Finalist
Blackhall GaelsBatterstown & KilcloonNon-QualifierRelegation Quarter-Finalist
CastletownCastletown-KilpatrickAidan Young2022 JFC ChampionsQuarter-Finalist
Drumbaragh EmmetsDrumbaragh, KellsDavy CahillRelegation PlayoffRelegation Quarter-Finalist
Duleek/BellewstownDuleek & BellewstownJoe SheridanRunners-UpRunners-Up
DunderryDunderryMichael ClarkeSemi-FinalistRelegated to 2024 JFC
LongwoodLongwoodNoel KerriganNon-QualifierRelegation Finalist
Meath HillMeath HillShane McCoyNon-QualifierQuarter-Finalist
Navan O'MahonysNavanDamien Moran & Rory MaguireRelegated from 2022 SFCSemi-Finalist
NobberNobberPaddy BatesSemi-FinalistRelegation Semi-Finalist
OldcastleOldcastleJude McNabbQuarter-FinalistRelegation Quarter-Finalist
RathkennyRathkennyDonal CurtisQuarter-FinalistChampions
St. Michael'sCarlanstown & KilbegMick O'RourkeNon-QualifierRelegation Quarter-Finalist
St. Patrick'sStamullenRonan Kearns & Daithi WhyteQuarter-FinalistSemi-Finalist
WalterstownJohnstownNiall ReynoldsQuarter-FinalistQuarter-Finalist

Group stage

There were four groups of four teams called Group A, B, C and D. The 1st and 2nd placed teams in each group qualified for the quarter-finals. The 3rd and 4th placed team in each group proceeded to the Relegation Play-Off to determine which team would be relegated.
The draws for the group stage of the championship were made on 24 April 2023

Group A

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Group B

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Group C

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Group D

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Knock-out stage

The 1st and 2nd placed teams in each group qualified for the quarter-finals. Quarter Final pairings were drawn with one group winner and one 2nd placed team in each pair with no repeat pairings from group stages. Semi Final pairings were determined by an open draw. The draw for the Quarter-finals and Semi-Finals took place on the 28 August 2023.

Bracket

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

Relegation play-offs

The relegation play-off consisted of the 3rd and 4th-placed finishers in each group. The winners of each playoff round retained their intermediate status while the outright loser was relegated to the Junior championship for 2024. The draw for the Relegation Quarter-finals and Semi-Finals took place on 28 August 2023.

Bracket

Relegation quarter-finals

Relegation semi-finals

Relegation final