Looking forward to the drive on Monday ?

The big question for John Heslin ahead of tomorrow's Leinster Club SFC semi-final for St Loman's against Simonstown Gaels is - will he enjoy the drive to work in the heart of the Royal County on Monday?

Heslin will be eager to finish on the winning side and then he can relish the drive to work at Teagasc near Kiltale on Monday morning.

Simonstown Gaels will be aiming to make sure he doesn't enjoy the journey either tomorrow or on Monday when they run out at Cusack Park, Mullingar tomorrow for their first taste of a Leinster Club SFC semi-final.

Standing in the way will be the Westmeath champions St Loman's who will be aiming to advance to the December decider against either Rathnew (Wicklow) or Moorfield (Kildare).

Excitement levels will surely be heading for fever pitch amongst Simonstown and St Loman's supporters who have every reason for both optimism and caution ahead of Sunday's big game.

For Simonstown, optimism can be explained after they completed an unprecedented club two in-a-row of Keegan Cup successes last month with a thoroughly deserved victory over Summerhill at Pairc Tailteann where the Gaels won by 2-9 to 0-7.

Caution comes into the equation following Simonstown's performance in the A FL Div 1 semi-final where the Navan men held on for a 0-12 to 0-9 victory against the same opposition.

At one stage in the second-half Simonstown were well in control, but had to depend on the reliable Robbie Burlingham to save a last minute penalty to avoid the exertions of extra-time.
In mitigation, Simonstown can point to the fact that it was only a league semi-final, that they didn't have their strongest team on the pitch and that it was a typical night for what could be described as winter football.

None of that will matter at 2pm tomorrow in what is likely to be a rip-roaring contest against the Westmeath champions who will have their talisman John Heslin leading the attack.