Final appearance for Mostrim or Longford Slashers
Mostrim are attempting to reach the Senior Football Championship decider for the first time since 1992 (when they last won the county title) and will be quietly confident of getting the better of Longford Slashers in the second semi-final at Pearse Park on Sunday evening next, throw-in 7pm.
After scoring a shock win over the then title holders Dromard in the 2008 Connolly Cup Qualifiers, the promising young Mostrim team have been showing considerable potential despite the bitter disappointment of losing the U-21 'A' Championship final for the past two years.
On both occasions they had to settle for second best against Dromard but significant progress is being made and it will be a tremendous achievement if the Edgeworthstown side can succeed in reaching the senior final under the driving force of inspirational manager John Smith.
Two of the key players on the Mostrim team are central defenders Michael Victory and Seamus Hannon while Michael Hussey, Brian Farrell, Shane Kiernan and David Morgan will be hoping to make a big impact in attack.
Injury prevented Michael Kenny from featuring in the one-point win over Killoe in the quarter-final and the Mostrim mentors will be hoping that he is fit enough to partner Fintan Coyle at midfield.
While Longford Slashers have already beaten the Edgeworthstown outfit in the group stages of the current championship campaign, winning by the comfortable margin of five points, a closer contest could be in prospect in the eagerly awaited last four showdown.
Generally regarded as one of the main contenders for the title this year, Slashers have reached the semi-final in fairly emphatic fashion with wins over Granard, Mostrim, Ballymahon and Mullinalaghta even if it took them quite some time to assert their authority.
The townies trailed at the break against St.Columba's in the quarter-final but produced a strong second half display to eventually emerge victorious by nine points against the team who sprang a major shock in knocking out the reigning champions Clonguish.
Those slow starts must be giving new Slashers team manager Denis Connerton considerable cause for concern and a greater impact will need to be made in the first half in the quest to qualify for the county final for the third time in the space of five years.
Slashers are hoping to make amends for the demoralising defeats in the 2006 and 2008 senior deciders but could be hard pressed to overcome the stiff challenge of a Mostrim team in what promises to be a most entertaining encounter.
However, the shrewd coach Connerton would appear to be getting the best of the Slashers side who are backboned by county players Dermot Brady, Barry Gilleran and Paul Kelly and if David Sheridan and Niall Mulligan can gain the upper hand at centrefield the sky-blues clearly have the forward power to come out on top.
The Smith brothers Colin and Mark along with Stephen Phillips and Adrian Murphy will make it difficult for the Mostrim defence if they receive a proper supply of the ball and the better-balanced Longford Slashers side are fancied to make another county final appearance on Sunday September 26th.
PREDICTION:
Longford Slashers
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Weather for Longford, Ireland
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 11 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South
