Club Football Semi-Finals...18/02/2012.

Crossmaglen V Dr.Crokes (Portlaoise).
The defending champions, in pursuit of a 6th title, face the Kerry champions in O'Moore Park. Experience, allied to an injection of youth carefully moulded into the team in the past few years, should give Cross sufficient impetus to reach another decider on Patrick's Day.
From their 1st. triumph, warriors such as Hearty and McConville remain - amazing really.
Crokes, including the best footballer in the country at the moment in the form of Cooper, have no reason to fear Cross, but the wily Nordies have that innate skill to dictate the pattern and style of the game. Don't expect open free-flowing football.

Prediction: Cross by 3...

St.Brigids V Garrycastle (Longford).
Last years beaten finalists face unique opponents from across the river in what one could term "the battle of the river-rats"
Kiltoom are an experienced outfit, not given "frilly" football. The plan will be to get it forward to the Kilbride/Dolan axis and in proven battlers like Kilbride the lesser, Mannion and Domican would appear to have the momentum here.
Garrycastle are in virgin territory although the term virgin wouldn't be in their lexicon. Winning a Leinster club is no mean feat and their performance in the final against St.Bridgets was top drawer. In fairness, on the day, Dessie Dolan ran the show and was given a lot of latitude by very poor marking. McGowan's injury is a big blow to them but they have the Dolans, nothing to lose and great incentive.
This has the hallmarks of a low scoring contest (the figure of 25 points is unlikely to be exceeded) with 0-12 to 0-10 a possible.

Prediction: St.Brigids by 2..

Cross winning the All ireland last year gave this new panel of players great belief in themselves. They always seem to be able to add those 3 or 4 minor players to their setup each year in what truly is a conveyor belt in the truest sense of the word. Cross don't seem to do the hunger thing, They are more inclined to believe in themselves and their ability to win All Ireland club titles. Amazingly I think they have only been beaten in two Semi finals along the way since McConville and Hearty came on the scene.
Last year against Kilmacaud they used revenge for the defeat at the semi final stage as motivation to push them towards their 6th title and perhaps on this occasion the fact that Crokes have childishly requested fans segregation will also add a little bit of zest to the contest but will hardly matter in the last ten minutes of a game if things happen to be tight. McConville joked on telly earlier about getting four men to mark the Gooch, I'd say before the game is finished he will have come into contact with more than four men Should be a good encounter and agree with Boxty that it may not be the most free flowing game but an interesting one all the same. Cross by 3 also

I know very little if anything about the other two semi finalists so it would be unwise to predict who will be facing Cross in the final

[img][/img]

He may be 36, He may have scored 3-22 in this years championship, but I doubt its not looking good for poor old Oisin, All those years listening to Ricey in his ear have definitely taken its toll. Oisin just looks failed or something.

Being quite honest I don't think Crokes have the strength in depth of Cross. A few very good players but a few very average also. Will be surprised if they win but sure we live in hope.

Crossmaglen have a cracking website.... Interesting to see the number of people (no past heroes) that are involved in the running of the many aspects of the club... Worth a look.

Jamie Clarke is a cracking player. Good game here, Aaron Kernan rattles in a goal as I write. Has to be Cross now.

Great game in dreadful conditions. The Kernans are great ball users.

Over to Glennon Bros Pearse Park......

Great win for Cross. Was a bit uncertain about who I wanted to win but the whole segregation thing from Crokes swung it for me. Well done the Cross men!

I was right. Overall Cross the better team. Crokes frustrating team, not enough quality players. Also well done Garrycastle and will give Cross a game in the final.

Good win for cross, although looking forward to having some of them back for Armagh.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Jonsmith wrote:[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Good article JS, thanks for that.

Cross held their nerve when many others would have panicked. Their ability to secure and retain possession was top drawer. Paul Kernan impressed me at f/b and the wee Morgan lad at c/b is a tenacious bugger. There were some wonderful dispossessions executed by Cross and Aaron Kernan was my MoM.

Brigids left this after them in a big way. Game in the bag at half-time, a different team reappeared for the second half. Surely sez I, all they have to do is lorry it on the breeze toward Kilbride and alls good, but they lost their way in the middle third and Dessie Dolan ran the show from there. He had excellent support from Mulvihill and the big lad O'Donoghue at midfield and James Dolan's goal was a gem.

In other notes:
McQuillan is a card mad referee. Some cards were a mystery to me as there was no malicious skelps.
Garrycastle won't keep it kicked out to Cross IMO.