Southern Gaels aim to move a step closer to championship semi finals

SOUTHERN Gaels are hoping to take a substantial step towards the semi-finals of the 2008 Westmeath IHC when they take on St Oliver Plunkett"s at Ballymore next Tuesday evening (throw-in: 7pm). Managed by Denis Cronin, who is backed up by selectors Kevin Jordan, Bernard Brannigan and John Foley, Southern Gaels have so far beaten Cullion and drawn with both Brownstown and Clonkill in this year"s championship before losing out to Turin. The likelihood is that two wins from their remaining three matches will see Southern Gaels through to the last four and selector Kevin Jordan believes next Tuesday"s game represents an ideal opportunity to claim one of those all-important victories. 'After this match we have Delvin and St Brigid"s, so I think this game is very important in the sense that St Oliver Plunkett"s are off-form and suffered a heavy defeat in their last outing against Turin. However, I"d warn our players that there"s nothing between any of the sides at this level of hurling and most games are pretty close,' Jordan said. 'Our fate is very much in our own hands, though, and most people would regard us as definite favourites to defeat St Oliver Plunkett"s. We"re aiming for at least two wins from our final three group matches and that should be enough to ensure a semi-final place. Our aim at the start of the campaign was to reach the semi-finals and hopefully we can achieve that feat. It won"t be easy and we have some difficult games to come but it will be great to see off St Oliver Plunkett"s next Tuesday,' he added. Among those expected to steer Southern Gaels beyond the challenge of St Oliver Plunkett"s will be ace free taker Paddy Divilly, Eoin Cronin, Joe Fallon and Tony O"Keeffe. The top four from the eight-team group progress to the semi-finals of this year"s Westmeath IHC.