All-Ireland champions St Vincents of Dublin will start next month’s Leinster club championship final as clear favourites against Rhode of Offaly after today's semi-finals.

Rhode (Offaly) 2-09 St Patrick’s (Louth) 0-10

The trend of the Meath SFC title not being retained since Dunshaughlin completed a three-in-a-row in 2002 continues, with Wolfe Tones sending holders Summerhill packing, 2-11 to 0-8, in a quarter-final clash at Páirc Tailteann on Saturday.

There are nine teams left in the race for the Meath SFC following the concluding round of group games over the weekend when holders Summerhill recovered from two defeats and a draw to advance to the knockout stages.

There are just four survivors from last year’s All-Ireland semi-final defeat by Dublin in the Kerry side to face IT Tralee in the McGrath Cup tomorrow.

Former League of Ireland player Shane Barrett turned in a remarkable display when powering Na Fianna into the semi-finals of the Meath SFC for the first time at Páirc Tailteann on Saturday.

Meath champions Navan O’Mahonys strolled through to the county SFC quarter-finals with a 0-10 to 0-5 victory over Seneschalstown in yesterday’s fourth-round clash at Stamullen.

Navan O’Mahonys 1-11 Wolfe Tones 0-07

This year’s Meath SFC final will be a repeat of the 2006 decider between Navan O’Mahonys and Wolfe Tones following yesterday’s semi-finals at Páirc Tailteann.

Mick O’Dowd of the Skryne club was ratified as the new Meath senior football manager in succession to Seamus McEnaney at last night’s county board meeting in Navan.

New Meath SFC kingpins will be crowned later this month after holders Summerhill lost out to Seneschalstown (2-8 to 0-10) in Saturday’s quarter-final at Skryne.

Jason Ryan admits he had toyed with the idea of leaving Wexford over recent seasons.

Champions Summerhill impressively advanced to the SFC quarter-finals with a 5-13 to 0-8 win over a poor Nobber side at Walterstown yesterday.

KILDALKEY claimed their third successive Meath SHC title with a decisive double scores victory over Navan O’Mahonys in a disappointing final at Pairc Tailteann.

HOLDERS Skryne failed to make it through to the last eight of the Meath SFC despite defeating already qualified Dunboyne by 0-13 to 0-7 at Navan’s Páirc Tailteann on Saturday evening.

MIDFIELDER Niall Coleman has emerged as a doubt for Galway’s Connacht semi-final showdown against either Mayo or Sligo next month after suffering a leg injury playing for his club yesterday.

IT may only be late November but the whispers emanating from Kilmacud Crokes’ hinterland in south Dublin would suggest that thoughts are already drifting towards St Patrick’s Day and the steps of the Hogan Stand.

GALWAY include three seniors on their under-21 team to play Wexford in the All-Ireland hurling championship semi-final at Semple Stadium tomorrow, at 3.30pm.