Anthony Cunningham expects last Sunday's SFC quarter-final victory over local rivals Athlone to stand to Garrycastle when they face Killucan in the semi-final on Sunday week.

The champions were on course to qualify directly for the last four before losing heavily to Mullingar Shamrocks in their final group match, but Cunningham feels having to play an extra match could yet prove to be a blessing in disguise.

"We've got an extra match which is a big advantage to us because we had a number of players coming back from injury, so we weren't too despondent after losing to Mullingar," the Garrycastle manager said.

"We would be trying desperately to get another crack at them and we've one hurdle to get over to get back to the final. We were just a bit flat that evening in Mullingar, but we want everyone flying in training to be good on the day; you just can't turn it on on the day of a championship match."

As manager of the Galway under 21 hurlers also, the weekend after next promises to be pretty hectic for Cunningham. Galway face Tipperary in the Bord Gais Energy All-Ireland U21HC final in Thurles on the Saturday evening and the following afternoon, he will back patrolling the sideline in Cusack Park when Garrycastle meet Killucan.

The Garrycastle v Killucan tie has a 3.30pm throw-in and will be preceded at 2pm by the meeting of local rivals The Downs and Mullingar Shamrocks in the other SFC semi-final. Tweet

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