Drama galore as top teams set for fierce battles

TWO intriguing Renault Senior Football Championship semi-finals are up for decision this weekend and they promise drama and excitement galore as we fast approach the county final on October 14.

It’s been a memorable Senior campaign with lots of drama, and albeit low on quality at times it’s fair to say that the best four teams of this season have found their way to the last four.

Almost every fibre of the being says that we are looking at a neighbourly battle between Rathnew and St Patrick’s but there’s something niggly like a stone in your shoe that says we may be in for a major upset this weekend.

Up first on Saturday is the meeting of the defending champions Rathnew and the men from AGB who are looking for a first final appearance since 1963. To get to that final they must overcome the huge obstacle that is Harry Murphy’s side who have disposed of every challenger apart from Hollywood in their first group clash where they both shared the spoils after an entertaining battle in Joule Park Aughrim.

Can the young men of AGB handle the undeniable Village power and passion? Conversely, can Rathnew handle the full-blooded youth and fearlessness of Damien Redmond’s men who have proven beyond all doubt that they are worthy of their last-four place.

There are any number of key battles in this game. Who marks Leighton Glynn? The dual star is so vital to the Rathnew cause that he must be assessed as a single unit. Does Damien Redmond go with youth in the form of Tom Maher or does he unleash veteran Ciaran Hyland (if fit) to try and curb the threat of the Village legend.

How will the AGB full-back line cope with the likes of Mark Doyle or James Stafford if he suddenly appears up top should things be tight in the second half?

Will the AGB half-forward line be able to realise their huge potential against a Rathnew halfback line marshalled by Ross O’Brien. The collision of O’Brien and Cormac O’Shea is going to be interesting and if Darragh Fitzgerald can get space and time to open up then there is scope for serious damage. Does Harry Murphy go with his half-back lieutenants John Manley and JT Moorehouse in the face of this strong AGB line or does Warren Kavanagh make an entrance or does Jamie Snell come out from the corner or does Enan Glynn start?

The midfield battle is incredibly exciting. Does Damien Redmond put Chris O’Brien on James Stafford and line JP Hurley up with Theo Smyth or does Stephen Hurley have something to offer?

And what about Damien Power in front of Peter Dignam’s goal. Does Chris O’Brien use his physical prowess to try and trouble one of the toughest full-backs in the county or does Cathal Kelliher look to use his pace to take on the Rathnew number three.

Pure entertainment is guaranteed from this battle. Kilbride’s Noel Kinsella is the man in the middle.

The meeting of St Pat’s and Hollywood on Sunday in Joule Park Aughrim carries huge potential for great football and memorable match ups as well.

Like Leighton Glynn in Saturday’s match, who marks Stephen Duffy on Sunday? Hollywood cannot release Harry Wilson from full-back, the threat of Tommy Kelly is too great. Sean O’Keeffe and Shane Kelly will have their hands full with the likes of Jordan Pettigrew or Paul Earls so Conor Burke might be the man for the job of trying to get to grips with the ghost-like meanderings of Duffy and his accurate spraying of the ball.

The battle between Paudge McWalter and Mikey Healy will be worth the admission price alone but as an added bonus you’re going to get ringside seats to the clash of the titans, Dean Healy and Ciaran Tyrrell, in the middle of the field.

Decent ball to Tony Hannon and Thomas Burke might expose a perceived weakness in the Pat’s full-back line but Padraig Higgins, Shane Murley, and Wayne Doyle will have plenty to say about that come Sunday afternoon.

The performance of Conor Ffrench is going to be huge for Casey O’Brien’s men.

The central figure has soaring ambition and is a pleasure to watch when on song and he may well have a huge bearing on this game.

St Pat’s have sailed through this campaign, dropping only a point to AGB and facing their toughest challenge, physically at least, against Annacurra and still winning comfortably.

How they fare against this Hollywood unit is anyone’s guess but expect plenty of scores and oodles of drama when Kieron Kenny throws in the ball.