Herts GAA - Bank of Ireland Senior Football Championship Semi-final St Dympnas face Éire Óg (2.00pm) in first semi-final Cotlandswick is the venue on Sunday for the opening county senior football semi-final between St Dympnas (Leagrave) and Éire Óg Oxford). It offers intrigue with Dympnas the in-form team all season and the Oxonians, so often full of unfilled promise, this year knuckling down to the task and seem determined to do well. Dympnas, champions twice in this decade, 2001 and 2005, have under Gerry Naughton's astute management already won the John Wallace and Cahill & Hurley competitions, along with the Benny McCaffrey Tournament, and presently share leadership in the League. A stark contrast to last year, when they celebrated their 40th anniversary and the club's only silverware was the Fr Ó Hanlon Cup. Dympnas play an open and exciting game of football. They possess some excellent footballers. Kevin Killeen at no 6, so often the launch pad for scoring movements, will be asked again to play a starring role. Some 50% of the squad is English born. Players like Wesley Keane, Liam Berry, Luke Scullion and Patrick Dennehy are real talent finds. Other Luton born players like Patrick McNamara, Damien Moloney, Luke Moloney, Paul Coady, Darren Ó Donnell, Kevin Caulfield and Steve Cunningham have now been in the squad for some 4 years and are invaluable to Dympnas' ambitions. New additions, James McKenzie (Mayo), Michael Ó Kane (Derry), and Derek Steele (Longford) add strength to the panel. Combined with established players Kevin Killeen, Norman Prendergast, Steve Byrne and Shane Gallagher and Dympnas seem to have discovered a successful formula this year losing only one match. Killeen is captain this year. His leadership, experience and inspirational performances have shown him to be the right man for the role. Luke Moloney may be an absentee on Sunday. A leg injury picked playing soccer is proving slow to heal. He would be a huge loss as he and Darren Ó Donnell at midfield have contributed hugely to Dympnas' recent legacy. Expect Liam Berry or Moloney's younger brother, Damian, to join him Ó Donnell at midfield. Much will be expected of Ó Donnell to take charge of proceedings in the middle of the field. Gerry Naughton (Bainisteóir) deserves huge credit for his club's progression. He has been unselfish in his dedication to his club. Gerry is modesty personified and all he asks of his players is to put in the effort and the rewards will take care of themselves. St.Dympnas' panel: Paul Coady (Goalkeeper, Luton); Norman Prendergast (Corner back, Mayo) Michael Ó Kane (Full back, Derry); John Prendergast (Corner back, Mayo) James McKenzie (Full back or Full Forward, Mayo) Kevin Caulfield (Wing back, Luton) Kevin Killian (Half back, Luton) Steve Byrne (Wing back, Donegal) Steve Doran (Wing back or Full Forward, Cork) Damien Moloney (Midfield, Vice Captain, Luton); Darren Ó Donnell (Midfield, Luton) Liam Berry (Wing back or Midfield, Luton) Shane Gallagher (Wing Forward, Donegal) Derek Steel (Half Forward, Longford) Alan Gallagher (Wing back or Wing Forward, Donegal) Patrick Dennehy (Wing Forward, Luton); Charlie Murray (Wing Forward, Monaghan) Patrick McNamara (Corner Forward, Luton); Wesley Keane (Corner Forward, Luton) Steve Cunningham (Full Forward, Luton); Michael Cunningham (Corner Forward, Luton) Luke Scullion (Midfield, Luton) Selectors: Gerry Naughton, Kevin Killeen, Michael Foy, Paul Gallen. Tweet

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