Semifinal is lomans to lose says flynn

Next Sunday’s senior football championship semi-final Mullingar derby is “St Loman’s to win or lose”, according to Mullingar Shamrocks manager Bernard Flynn.

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner ahead of this weekend’s eagerly anticipated all Mullingar clash, the two time All Ireland winner said that the Declan Rowley’s charges were “red hot favourites” for a reason.

“We are serious underdogs and rightly so. They are the best team in the country and have improved an awful from last year. They got a lot stronger, they have better balance and brought in some good players.”

Shamrocks’ path to the semi-final has been anything but smooth with injuries to a number of key players such as the Gavin brothers and Micheal Curley. The lowest point in what has been a topsy turvy season so far was undoubtedly the 2-12 to 0-4 point defeat to Loman’s in the group phase of the competition, a victory which Flynn says “hurt bad”.

Shamrocks needed to two game see off the challenge of Tyrrellspass in the quarter final. While he feels that the two extra games should stand to Shamrock, particularly their younger players who have improved as the championship progressed, Flynn is under no illusions about the challenge that his men face on Sunday.

“We are up against a different animal on Sunday. I said it after the last game that we will have to improve an awful to compete. One thing I’ve learned from the Loman’s and Shamrocks games over the years though is that Shamrocks enjoy playing them,” he said.

St Loman’s supremo Declan Rowley believes Sunday’s game will be a lot closer than his side’s preivous championship encounter, saying that he’d “gladly take a one point win”. The former Longford and Leitrim manager acknowledges that “from the outside looking in” Loman’s are the favourites to progress to the final but he is talking nothing for granted.

“The county champions of last year are taking on the champions of 2012. There is not going to be a whole lot in it. It’s a local derby as well as that can be a great leveller.”

“We have played lots of good football but no more than Dublin in the All Ireland championship, we will need to do it at the business end of the season. This will be our first knock out game of the year and that brings its own pressure. We have matured as a team over the past year but we know we have a big battle ahead of us on Sunday.”

Coralstown Kinnegad take on the 2012 Leinster club champions Garrycastle in the other semi-final this weekend.

The return of Dessie Dolan junior has revitalised the Athlone side’s season and he was the man of the match when the two side met in the group phase. Garrycastle secured their passage to the quarter finals with a 1-12 to 1-4 victory but it would be wrong too much into the result as Coralstown Kinnegad had already secured a place in the semi-finals.

While Coralstown Kinnegad may not have the same level of experience as their opponents, manager Thomas 'Tosh’ McDonnell will have his charges prepared well and it would be no surprise if they come out on top this weekend.