St. Brigids – 8/13

Draw – 7/1

Garrycastle – 7/4

It’s the local derby that is an All-Ireland semi-final. The links between the sides make it a dream game for the media: Anthony Cunningham, who resides in the Brigid’s area and guided the Kiltoom side to Connaught honours, must now plot their downfall; players from both sides attended and played their schools football with Marist College in Leinster Colleges ‘A’; they frequent the same bars and nightclubs (though not so much recently we’d imagine)… and then there’s the Dolan factor.

It’s a headline writer’s dream too. Take your pick from ‘D-Day (Dolan Day)’, ‘Family affair’, ‘Who’ll be Dolan out the punishment’… but it’s the reports and not the previews that the cousins who’ll go head to head in Longford will want to feature in. The Westmeath and Leinster champs will have brothers Des and Gary and cousin James; the Ros and Connaught champs have brothers Frankie, Darren and Garvan. Alan Fox, the red-haired Garrycastle back that mopped up a sight of ball on his introduction in the Leinster final, is also a cousin of all the aforementioned.

Garrycastle are underdogs at 8/5 but that’s nothing new to them. They relished and flourished with that tag in the provincial decider. St. Brigid’s (the Dublin version) looked like they saw the trip to Tullamore as a mere formality prior to celebrating a provincial title in their sponsor’s premises on Harcourt Street (you know… the one where it’s easier to score than at a sexaholic conference for the visually impaired). Paddy Andrew’s second-half performance reeled the Westmeath men back to level, but substitute Conor Cosgrove held his nerve to kick the winning free at the death.

Of concern for the Leinster champs will be the manner of their collapse around the middle third in that second half. Seanie Donoghue and David O’Shaughnessy are a physically imposing pairing, and fears of their not lasting the hour have been alleviated by the return from duty of Aidan Browne, a former Westmeath panellist. Garrycastle have county men John Gaffey and the tenacious Doran Hart at the back. One of the notable aspects of the Leinster final was the contribution made from the Garrycastle subs, from the aforementioned Cosgrove and Browne, to Alan ‘Dollar’ Daly and Alan Fox. They all made vital contributions to help steady a side that were starting to freefall and, on a day when the occasion is likely to affect a number of starting players, a strong bench could prove vital.

Garrycastle’s hopes may appear pinned to their star man: Dessie Dolan. He was allowed more latitude in the Leinster final than he’s likely to get in Longford. His ability to make space for himself and others is a study in forward play. His brother, Gary, has goaled in their last two games against Brigid’s and Athy. Most Garrycastle supporters see Paddy Mulvihill as the key to their chances. The powerful forward hasn’t found his form this season, but if he can he could make the difference in a game likely to be tighter than a cash-strapped Cavan man.

Their manager, Anthony Cunningham, is a positive. He’s got the midas touch as shown by his involvement with Brigid’s, Garrycastle and the Galway Under-21s. Indeed, his Galway senior hurlers have started the season brightly and the 12/1 about them for All-Ireland honours is big too.

St. Brigid’s have been here before. This is their third semi-final in recent years. They were beaten by eventual champions Crossmaglen in the semi in 2007, they beat Nemo last year before the Orchard boys took them in the final, and are hell-bent on going one better this year. That experience can stand to them, and unlike their Dublin namesakes, they won’t take Garrycastle for granted.

St. Brigid’s Connacht form was patchy. Sligo champs Tourlestrane raced into a four point lead before Frankie Dolan and Senan Kilbride teamed up to boss affairs. In the Connacht final against Corofin, Mayo referee Liam Devenney was their best player. Between disallowing a perfectly good goal and the awarding of frees softer than Hugh Heffner without Viagra, it’s surprising Shane Curran et al only escorted him off the field instead of carrying him on their shoulders.

Brigid’s are a formidable and strong side. They’ve the drive of Peter Domican in defence, Karol Mannion in midfield, and Frankie and Senan are their main men up front. The big bonus for Brigid’s is that they’ve been here before and it’s a step towards their stated pre-season goal of lifting the Andy Merrigan, while for Garrycastle they’d have gladly taken a Leinster at the start of 2011.

In what’s likely to be a tight affair the nod goes to a Brigid’s side at 4/6 whose experience of semi-finals should see them through.