The replay of the all-Mullingar county semi-final is scheduled for this Sunday evening at 5.15pm in Cusack Park. If this game is half as entertaining as the drawn encounter, it will be well worth the admission fee and given the local rivalry a decent attendance is expected.
Both sides will feel they left it behind the first day. The Saints were first to take the driving seat a fortnight ago but Shamrocks refused to panic and managed to effect a nine-point turnaround to put them in what looked like a match-winning position. Lomans struck with a late goal to secure a replay.
It is often said that the team which manages to come from behind to secure the draw holds the advantage going into the replay but I don’t subscribe to that. I feel that while St Loman’s have every reason to be confident going into the replay it will be Shamrocks’ greater experience at this stage which will see them over the line.
Shamrocks have been boosted by the return of Lorcan Smyth from suspension and he will give them more bite up front. While any team that includes John Heslin, Paul Sharry, and Conor Lynam has to be respected I feel the Springfield side is a more balanced one.
Shamrocks owe Lomans a beating after what happened in the opening round and will also want another crack at Garrycastle after what happened last year. All the signs are that it will be close again but I think it will be the green and white of Mullingar that will be celebrating come Sunday evening.
