Pearses will be forewarned by early defeat to St Faithleach's

By Eamon A. Donoghue

Any hopes of an ambush from St Faithleach's in this Saturday's Roscommon SFC semi-final (Kiltoom, 5pm) will have been wiped away after the Ballyleague men already shocked the Woodmount based team in the group stages.

St Faithleach's beat a depleted Padraig Pearses team in the opening round, though they were possibly fortunate to win on the day. Pearses will be out to avenge that result and will be well aware of where St Faithleach's are most dangerous.

Pearses came third in their group on scoring difference and had to play a preliminary quarter-final. Frank Canning's charges are producing outstanding late flurries in games. Against Oran, they turned around an eight-point deficit, also letting a five-point advantage slip, and it took extra time to see off the Rockfield team. In extra-time, Pearses were unstoppable and produced their best football of the year to win comprehensively in the end.

In their quarter-final against Boyle, Pearses turned around a seven-point deficit to force extra-time and again they produced when it mattered to blow Boyle away by five points.

They may be rolling the dice somewhat and perhaps they are fortunate to be still in the championship,  but they should have enough to come through this semi-final. They were actually the better team for long spells when they played Faithleach's in the group stages, despite losing in the end. They missed a number of opportunities, especially in the first half.

They were short a number of players that day - players that they have available since like Eoin Colleran, Jack Tumulty, Caelim Keogh and Niall Daly. Daly is likely play a quarter of this game as he did against Boyle, but it could be a match to hold the Roscommon player (who has battled back from a serious injury) in reserve for a possible county final.

With Hubert Darcy and Mark Richardson back fit this year, both players are huge additions to the reigning county champions. They will need more consistency from the midfield sector and will look for more from Conor Ryan in particular.

Pearses' ability to kick two-pointers have saved them in their last two games, and Paul Carey’s ability to kick outside the arc has been impressive.

Managed by Westmeath man Ian Bradley - who previously had a spell in charge of Rosemount - St Faithleach's have a major attacking threat in the Murtagh brothers (Ciaráin and Diarmuid), who are always capable of kicking scores. Pearses will need to keep this duo as quiet as possible, be more consistent in their own play, and they should get back into another county final.

Prediction: Padraig Pearses.