Replying To winatallcost:  "The text is affected by a walkover and not given one!"

Replying To CastleBravo:  "Giving a walk over still counts as "affected" though, Otherwise if a team knew they were going to lose badly in a certain game, they could just give a walkover to preserve their score difference, while a team that plays and loses would effectively be punished for fielding."

Replying To winatallcost:  "Yes it works both ways so these need to be taken into account when determining final positions when there are ties. In affect one walkover in a division can cause carnage and eliminate score difference altogether. That's where score difference between the teams involved only comes into play. So if 3 teams were vying for a 2 places and team A beat team B but teams C beat team A but lost to team B, the score difference in these games come into play if any of the teams involved were affected by a walkover, that given or received!"

Replying To ratlag:  "I'm pretty sure thats what I said in regards to Div3A (or at least tried to say anyway). None of the top teams gave walkovers to each other or any other team so therefore their head to head and score difference in their games among each other should all be counted to determine the outcome.
Likewise in 1A, St. Colmcilles played Summerhill and beat them so therefore its simply down to head to head result in that case.

2B is the interesting one as Ratoath gave a walkover to Ultans but played and bet both Castletown and Clan Na Gael so I think it seems a bit harsh for them to lose out and be punished when they are clearly the better of the three teams, but if they are the rules then so be it."

Replying To ratlag:  "1A
Ratoath already in the final and the second spot between St.ColmCilles (home to Dunboyne) and Summerhill (Home to Ashbourne). Colmcilles hold the head to head so I would imagine it would be them meeting Ratoath in the final as I don't see either team losing their final game.
Trim already gone and the last spot between Dunshaughlin, Na Fianna and Skryne. Dunshaughlin need to beat Simonstown and hope that Skryne lose to Ratoath or NaFianna lose to Kells. Having lost to both Skryne and Na Fianna a draw won't do them. On form its hard to see Dunshaughlin winning their game but they did manage a great win over Tones a few weeks back so it is possible and if they do their neighbours Ratoath should do them a favour and beat a poor Skryne team.
Final: Ratoath v St. Colmcilles
Relegation: Trim and Skryne

1B
This is a lot more straight forward. Navan already in the final with the winner of Michaels and the Bracks joining them, and in the relegation Curraha are definitely gone with the loser of Rathkenny and Dunderry joining them (Dunderry stay up if they get a draw either).
Final: Navan v Ballinabrackey
Relegation: Curraha and Dunderry

2A
3 way tie at the top with Meath Hill, Dunsany and St Pats all tied on 18 points. All three have beaten each other so it comes down to score difference then as far as I am aware which Meath Hill are a way out in front with +132. St. Pats next with +79 and then Dunsany with +59. Its hard to see Dunsany outscoring Pats by 20points away to Ballivor even though they should win so it looks to me like the positions won't change with Meath Hill playing Don/Ash seconds on the same night that their seniors play (genius by the fixtures committee) and St Pats with a tricky tie against Nobber but should still have enough.
Relegation done and dusted with Dunshaughlin and Drumbaragh set for the drop.
Final: Meath Hill v St.Pats
Relegation: Dunshaughlin and Drumbaragh

2B
Ultans already in the final with Ratoath, Clan Na Gael and Castletown all tied on 10points below them. Ratoath hold the head to head having bet both teams in their last two games and should be able to beat Dunboyne seconds based on current form.
Skryne already relegated and Longwood need a win against Kells coupled with Ratoath beating Dunboyne to avoid the drop. I can see both of these things happening and so think Dunboyne will be the ones joining Skryne in 3A next year.
Final: Ultans v Ratoath
Relegation: Skryne and Dunboyne

3A
A very interesting one. St Colmcilles (4th) play Moylagh (3rd) with the winner eliminating the other team (Moylagh will have lost to both St. Colmcilles and Kilbride if all teams finish on 12 points which puts them bottom of the pile on head to head). St. Brigids play Moynalty away needing only a draw to clinch a final spot. However if they lose and both Kilbride and Moylagh win that will leave the 3 teams on 14points. All 3 teams have beaten each other which should leave it at score difference which stand as follows (St Brigids +35, Kilbride +37, Moylagh +60) so it will be very interesting how the last round of games goes.
Kilmainhamwood are already gone and with trim's last game against Kilbride I can't see them not joining them.
Final: St Brigids v Kilbride
Relegation: Kilmainham Wood and Trim

3B
The only division that is already decided before the final round of games.
Final: Slane v Cortown"

Replying To BigJoe14:  "Since when has it become acceptable for a clubs first team to give walkovers? It is absolutely disgraceful carry on and completely calls into question the integrity of the competition and in some cases costs other teams promotion. Says more about those clubs in general as well."

Replying To BigJoe14:  "Since when has it become acceptable for a clubs first team to give walkovers? It is absolutely disgraceful carry on and completely calls into question the integrity of the competition and in some cases costs other teams promotion. Says more about those clubs in general as well."

Replying To winatallcost:  "Note that some of the divisions in the league have been affected by walkovers which means in the case of teams being tied, score difference across all games goes out the window. This means it would boil down to head to heads and then score difference between only the teams involved competing for positions. It's in the rules section for the League Competitions for Meath."

Replying To Blackspot09:  "Couldn't agree more. Particularly clubs operating at the top level in the county. As I said a 2 point deduction for the start of next years league would deter clubs from doing this."

Replying To BigJoe14:  "Since when has it become acceptable for a clubs first team to give walkovers? It is absolutely disgraceful carry on and completely calls into question the integrity of the competition and in some cases costs other teams promotion. Says more about those clubs in general as well."

Replying To ratlag:  "Walk Overs given per league:
1A
Wolfe Tones (First Team) 1 against St. Colmcilles. (Made the league final by 2 points, although did hold the head to head against Summerhill had they of tied on points)

1B
0

2A
Nobber 1 against St. Pats (Finished level on points with Meath Hill and Dunsany so have a massive impact on the league outcome)

2B
Ratoath (Seconds) 1 against Ultans (Who finished top having received 2 walkovers over all which again has a huge impact on the league outcome.
Dunboyne (Seconds) 1 v Ultans

In both cases here, walkovers look to be given as Second teams are playing on the same night as the first teams. Now while people can say 'Oh surely they can get the numbers to at least field a team, pull 3rd team players etc' this isn't the point. Firstly 3rd team players are exactly that, and will plan their lives based on 3rd team fixtures. But also, for the integrity of the competition and to ensure that the best teams and players are winning we need to avoid teams being forced to concede games. Ultans have finished top here by potentially 2 points (assuming they win their final game on thursday) hvaing been awarded 4 points for not even playing. Obviously this is not their fault at all but had they played both games who knows how this league would have finished.

3A
Trim (Seconds) 3 against Kilbride, Moylagh and St. Brigids. Allagainst the top 3 teams so luckily this kind of balanced out but St. Colmcilles (Seconds) who were not completely out of the hunt coming into the last 2 rounds had to play them (they won) but if they hadn't this would again have a huge bearing on things.
Summerhill (Seconds) 1 against St Brigids
Simonstown (Seconds) 1 against St. Brigids
Wolfe Tones (Seconds) 1 against St. Colmcilles
Kilmainham Wood (Seniors) 1 against Kilbride

So here we have St. Brigids who topped the table by 2 points, were awarded 6 points by three second teams who couldn't field. Kilbride who finished 2nd have been awarded 4 points from walkovers as well. Massive impact on league standings.

3B
Eastern Gaels 8
St. Pauls 8
Senchalstown (Seconds) 1 against Boardsmill
Boardsmill (Seniors) 1 against Naoimh Muire

No real bearing here on the table.

So all in all we had
4 walkovers from first teams (Not including St. Pauls or Eastern Gaels)
9 walkovers from second teams.

Club first teams giving a walkover should never happen, barring where they have requested the game to be moved weeks in advance and the County Board just refuse for no good reason.
With the second teams, if they are being let into the leagues against clubs first teams then common sense has to prevail and they are fixed either the day before or after the clubs first teams. Everyone knows a second team is made up of the subs on a first team squad so if the games are fixed for the same night then obviously they will be down numbers. This is also depriving young players of game time to help them develop as they will sit on the bench for the first team instead of playing full games for the seconds. I really think this is an easy fix here from a County Board and fixtures committee point of view and will help to improve the integrity and overall standard of the leagues going forward."

Replying To ratlag:  "Walk Overs given per league:
1A
Wolfe Tones (First Team) 1 against St. Colmcilles. (Made the league final by 2 points, although did hold the head to head against Summerhill had they of tied on points)

1B
0

2A
Nobber 1 against St. Pats (Finished level on points with Meath Hill and Dunsany so have a massive impact on the league outcome)

2B
Ratoath (Seconds) 1 against Ultans (Who finished top having received 2 walkovers over all which again has a huge impact on the league outcome.
Dunboyne (Seconds) 1 v Ultans

In both cases here, walkovers look to be given as Second teams are playing on the same night as the first teams. Now while people can say 'Oh surely they can get the numbers to at least field a team, pull 3rd team players etc' this isn't the point. Firstly 3rd team players are exactly that, and will plan their lives based on 3rd team fixtures. But also, for the integrity of the competition and to ensure that the best teams and players are winning we need to avoid teams being forced to concede games. Ultans have finished top here by potentially 2 points (assuming they win their final game on thursday) hvaing been awarded 4 points for not even playing. Obviously this is not their fault at all but had they played both games who knows how this league would have finished.

3A
Trim (Seconds) 3 against Kilbride, Moylagh and St. Brigids. Allagainst the top 3 teams so luckily this kind of balanced out but St. Colmcilles (Seconds) who were not completely out of the hunt coming into the last 2 rounds had to play them (they won) but if they hadn't this would again have a huge bearing on things.
Summerhill (Seconds) 1 against St Brigids
Simonstown (Seconds) 1 against St. Brigids
Wolfe Tones (Seconds) 1 against St. Colmcilles
Kilmainham Wood (Seniors) 1 against Kilbride

So here we have St. Brigids who topped the table by 2 points, were awarded 6 points by three second teams who couldn't field. Kilbride who finished 2nd have been awarded 4 points from walkovers as well. Massive impact on league standings.

3B
Eastern Gaels 8
St. Pauls 8
Senchalstown (Seconds) 1 against Boardsmill
Boardsmill (Seniors) 1 against Naoimh Muire

No real bearing here on the table.

So all in all we had
4 walkovers from first teams (Not including St. Pauls or Eastern Gaels)
9 walkovers from second teams.

Club first teams giving a walkover should never happen, barring where they have requested the game to be moved weeks in advance and the County Board just refuse for no good reason.
With the second teams, if they are being let into the leagues against clubs first teams then common sense has to prevail and they are fixed either the day before or after the clubs first teams. Everyone knows a second team is made up of the subs on a first team squad so if the games are fixed for the same night then obviously they will be down numbers. This is also depriving young players of game time to help them develop as they will sit on the bench for the first team instead of playing full games for the seconds. I really think this is an easy fix here from a County Board and fixtures committee point of view and will help to improve the integrity and overall standard of the leagues going forward."

Replying To 199710:  "In fairness to the County board /CCC they asked clubs at the start of the year to look closely at their numbers before registering a team for the very reason that is happening now. One club has given 3 walkovers to the top three teams in Div3 so as per regulations they need to get out the cheque book...

Regulation 13.
Clubs shall fulfil League and Cup Fixtures despite loss of (a) inter-county players; (b) dual players.
Should a Club fail to fulfill a fixture in league or cup competitions the game shall be awarded to the
opposing team and a fine of €200 may be imposed on the team failing to fulfill the fixture. A team
giving a second walkover shall be disqualified from the competition and shall be fined a minimum of
€200. Any team that withdraws from a competition shall be fined a minimum of €200."

Replying To 199710:  "But this is not what is happening. Clubs have to name 15 and they are naming lads who are out injured, emigrated or even retired so its not the subs that you are coming up against, it can be starters who has played c/ship the previous year and will play next year. Just look at the reports on the Hoganstand and the teams lists and I looked at one club this year for the very same reason as your talking about and I found that in one particular week, Tue & Thursday 8 lads played for both their Senior team in 1A and second team in 2B....a regulation was brough out that team needed to submit their list and that they were gong to be published up on the Meath GAA website for everyone to see but I don't think this ever happened....There is no Governance with any of this..."

Replying To 199710:  "But this is not what is happening. Clubs have to name 15 and they are naming lads who are out injured, emigrated or even retired so its not the subs that you are coming up against, it can be starters who has played c/ship the previous year and will play next year. Just look at the reports on the Hoganstand and the teams lists and I looked at one club this year for the very same reason as your talking about and I found that in one particular week, Tue & Thursday 8 lads played for both their Senior team in 1A and second team in 2B....a regulation was brough out that team needed to submit their list and that they were gong to be published up on the Meath GAA website for everyone to see but I don't think this ever happened....There is no Governance with any of this..."

Replying To Awaywin:  "The game they conceded was the following week
No excuses except a bit of arrogance I'd say"

Replying To Analyst:  "With the game being moved to the week after there were 7 players away on hols (as per the planner it was a free week) and with exams and injuries another 9 ruled out, playing without 16 players available just wasn't feasible"

Replying To Analyst:  "With the game being moved to the week after there were 7 players away on hols (as per the planner it was a free week) and with exams and injuries another 9 ruled out, playing without 16 players available just wasn't feasible"