Meath SFC champions Dunshaughlin were expected to begin the defence of their title with a win on Saturday evening against Rathkenny as the Royal County’s Club Championships got underway. Dunshaughlin boasted several aces in Meath manager Robbie Brennan’s pack and included Matthew Costello, Ruairi Kinsella, Conor Duke and Conor Gray in their line-up. Costello and Kinsella are tipped for All Star nominations in the autumn while Conor Duke has been mentioned as a possible young player of the year nominee following Meath’s surprise run to the All-Ireland semi-final stage this year. READ MORE:Ireland warm up for Rugby World Cup with comeback win in Cork READ MORE: Madie Gibson stars as impressive Athlone Town progress in Champions League Rathkenny were long odds to beat the champions but remarkably the north Meath men stunned their illustrious south Meath opponents and took the win by 2-16 to 2-13. Meath veteran Donal Keogan was in the Rathkenny fifteen but it was another Royal panel member Keith Curtis who stole the show, with an incredible personal tally of 2-11. Curtis was a regular starter for Meath this season but was somewhat living in the shadows of others like Jordan Morris, Eoghan Frayne and Costello until he popped up with 0-3 from play against Donegal in that semi-final. On Saturday night in Pairc Tailteann he put on an exhibition of kicking, scoring four two point frees and the other 2-3 from play in an outstanding display. Rathkenny narrowly avoided relegation back to the Intermediate ranks last season but under former Meath All-Ireland winning player and one-time manager Colm Coyle they’ve started the Championship in great style. Dunshaughlin fell at the first hurdle in the Leinster Club SFC last year when well beaten by a St Loman's Mullingar side and their manager title winning boss Richie Kealy also stepped down. Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email.