Browne's return increases 'Castle's options for Athy test

THE towering presence of Aidan Browne is back available to Garrycastle as they get ready for Sunday's Leinster Club SFC semi-final against Athy (Newbridge, 2pm). Browne missed Garrycastle's entire Westmeath SFC campaign, stretching back to May, while on overseas duty in Lebanon with the Defence Forces. He was also unavailable for the recent Leinster Club quarter-final demolition of Longford Slashers, but after returning to Irish shores two weeks ago, Browne returned to action for Garrycastle in last Friday's Féis Cup semi-final defeat to Athlone. Despite limping off injured during that game, Browne is expected to be part of the panel for Sunday's clash. Manager Anthony Cunningham said: "It's always good to have as many players available as possible, and Aidan adds to an already strong panel. Aidan hasn't played too much football of late, so it's difficult to say whether he'll be involved on the pitch on Sunday, but he'll be part of things and we'll see where we go from there." Such has been the impressive form of midfield pairing Seanie O'Donoghue and David O'Shaughnessy that Browne will surely have to settle for a place on the substitutes bench on Sunday. However, his inclusion will provide a further boost to an already assured-looking Garrycastle team. Having defeated Mullingar Shamrocks in the county final replay, Garrycastle proceeded to defeat Longford Slashers with ease in the Leinster quarter-finals (4-11 to 1-6). They now face Athy, who have been basking in the glory of winning their first Kildare county title for 24 years. The somewhat surprise winners of the Kildare title welcome back defensive ace Mick Foley for Sunday's match. Foley missed out on his club's recent provincial victories over Edenderry (Offaly) and Old Leighlin (Carlow), after going on an extended holiday after captaining Athy to a first county final victory since 1987. He was not expected to return to Ireland until around Christmas, but has now cut his holiday short. The 28-year-old is now expected to return in place of full-back Brian Kinihan, who suffered a dislocated shoulder in the quarter-final win. Apart from Foley, Athy are thin on the ground in terms of experience, and ended the quarter-final clash with Old Leighlin with the number of under-21 players, on the field, hitting double-figures. Garrycastle are reporting no serious injury worries ahead of the weekend, and Cunningham is predicting a tough dual with "an energetic" Athy team. "I watched Athy in the win over Old Leighlin and they're a very young team with lots of energy," said Cunningham, whose Garrycastle side lost to Kilmacud Crokes at this stage of last year's Leinster Club championship. "They've plenty of momentum behind them, and are definitely on a roll, and will be determined to continue that run on Sunday. Kildare is a very tough county to come out of, so we know a formidable challenge lies ahead of us. No matter what team you play, you have to perform yourself, and that's what we'll concentrate on doing. We've gone very close in Leinster over the last couple of years, but that won't be much use to us if we don't perform on Sunday. It's all about performing on the day," Cunningham added. Again, Garrycastle will be looking for much inspiration from experienced forward Dessie Dolan, who has been in notably good form of late. With James Dolan and James Duignan always likely to chip-in with a share of scores, Garrycastle will be confident of seeing off the men from the short grass county. They'll also hope Patrick Mulvihill can rediscover his undoubted scoring prowess, after the forward blazed a trial in the Westmeath championship but then surprisingly failed to register in the heavy win over Slashers. In the other Leinster semi-final on Sunday, St Brigid's (Dublin) take on Portlaoise (Laois) at Parnell Park (2pm).