Lancashire are all geared up for their massive All-Ireland JFC semi-final against Kerry on Saturday.

The Exiles will entertain the reigning All-Ireland champions at Old Bedians, Manchester at 2pm, with Mayo and Wexford contesting the other semi-final at the same time in Tullamore.

Lancashire are champions of Britain thanks to victories over Yorkshire (5-32 to 0-4), Warwickshire (0-12 to 1-8), Scotland (with whom they drew AET but Scotland failed to travel for the replay) and London (1-10 to 2-6).

Cathal Harkin, Lancashire PRO, notes: "Over the course of Lancashire's run, they have used 30 players from four different clubs; incidentally all the clubs were senior within the county. Only three players managed to play in all four games which shows the unpredictability of inter-county football in Britain - they are Paraic McGuirk and Oisins' pair, Mick Comney and Ciaran Harper. The latter is team captain and top scorer; he has weighed in with 1-19. Michael Molloy, who has only played two games in this campaign, has bagged 1-13.

"Lancashire have blown hot and cold during the drive for glory. They were truly awful in the second-half of the game against Scotland, while the opening half of their final victory over London was a shambles. When they turn it on, they can be sparkling. The second-half of the London game was inspired, it was a huge team effort. Leading this effort has been their ace-marksmen, Ciaran Harper and Michael Molloy. Both players are physically strong and can take a point from anywhere on the pitch. Stephen Sands in midfield is a terrific fielder of the ball and can put the ball over the bar while in defence, Paraic McGuirk leads from centre-half back. There are often unsung heroes in many teams and Lancashire is of no exception. Gary Morris and Craig Owen would fall into this category. The wing-backs just love their football and would go threw a brick wall for this team and with McGuirk in the middle, they form a formidable half-back line.

"It's difficult to gauge how good this Kerry team is, having not seen them play. One thing being certain, they will play the Kerry way. No hand-passing and long ball. John Mitchels, representing Britain last year came up against Templenoe and even in the dire conditions of Pairc na hEireann on a dreary Sunday; they still kept to tradition and the ball was played long to devastating effect. It will be interesting to see how Lancashire set up come Saturday. If they try and contain Kerry, it is something that they have not been used to on this campaign and this might unsettle them. On the other hand, if they play the same way they have been doing they might be opened up quite easily; just like in the first-half against London.

"Lancashire's best hope of victory will come down to two key points. First, they must have the strongest possible panel available and secondly, they must show the same desire they showed when wiping London off the pairc in the second-half of the All-Britain Final. There was a real togetherness shown by Lancashire which is not associated with the inter-county scene in Britain. They must resurrect this comradeship come Saturday to succeed."

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