Sky’s the limit for Blues

North End United dreaming of reaching Aviva

NORTH END United are on the road again next Saturday evening to Tipperary town where they take on one of the big guns of Irish junior football, St. Michael’s A.F.C., in Cooke Park at 5 p.m.

The Tipp outfit have been to two FAI finals in the last number of years and were champions as recently as 2014.

They will also have the advantage of home venue in round nine of the prestigious competition and are one step away from gracing the Aviva Stadium in Dublin 4.

The Wexford champions are well aware what it will take to get there next weekend, as they were beatan at this same stage only three seasons ago and Michael’s defeated them in the quarter-final in 2011.

They have been dealt a big blow going into the game, with ace midfielder Shane Dempsey heading on duty with the army overseas this week, and defender Lee Smith is also going on the same trip.

Andy Moore has also ruled himself out after a moment of madness in last week’s quarter-final win in Dublin.

However, manager John Godkin was in positive mood over the weekend. His key concern is to try to get through tonight’s game (Tuesday) without any further casualties.

He believes that this year’s squad are well capable of going all the way and capturing the elusive trophy that has to date never been brought back to our proud county.

Despite the fact that North End are away from home and are down some key players, Godkin remains confident, having travelled the country this season, coming away with big wins in Janesboro in Limerick and at Killarney Celtic in Kerry.

This is just another difficult challenge that the players are looking forward to. Shane and the other lads are a big loss but it will be someone else’s responsibility to step up to the mark and he has a strong squad to choose from.

The county will wish North End the very best in the semi-final and hopefully the dream is still alive come 7.30 p.m. next Saturday evening.

Meanwhile, Shamrock Rovers are also flying the flag for Wexford at the weekend, when they take on Ayrfield United, who lost out to North End in the last eight of the FAI Junior Cup, in the quarter-final of the O’Neill’s LFA Junior Cup.