Crunch games for four teams at the weekend as quest for IFC hots up
Mark Byrne
The Kepak Intermediate Football Championship semi-finals take place this weekend and plenty of entertaining football is promised.
Na Fianna v St Michael's in Boardsmill on 30/9/23 at 5:00PM Ref: Henri Clifford
Last year's beaten finalists Na Fianna face St Michael's in the first of the Kepak Intermediate Championship semi finals in Boardsmill. Na Fianna topped their group and scored nine goals in their first game against Ratoath.
They drew their second game against Summerhill and steadied the ship late in the second half against St Ultan's to win by four points in their last group game.
Meabh Downey, Leah Devine and Shauna Ennis will hope to point the way for Na Fianna over St Michael's, who comfortably beat Ratoath in the quarter-finals last Friday night in Carlanstown.
St Michael's will be confident after that game. Their first round draw against table toppers Dee Rangers, a solid two point victory over St Colmcille's and demolishing Boardsmill in the last group game will give them plenty of confidence to take on the well oiled Na Fianna machine in Boardsmill on Saturday evening.
Marion Farrelly and Seona Lynch will be the main threat to the Na Fianna defences while ably supported by Claire Reilly and Alicia Curtis both contributing scores in their victory over Ratoath.
Dee Rangers v St Colmcille's in Slane on 30/9/23 at 2:30PM Ref: TBC
Both Dee Rangers and St Colmcille's were beaten semi finalists last year so it will be a matter of who wants it the most in order to progress to this years final in Simonstown on 15th October.
Despite their exit at this stage last year, Dee Rangers have started the group campaign solidly, drawing their first game against St Michael's but winning both their second and third round games with ease. The last game was against their current opponent and was a comfortable win in the end.
But a semi final is a different ball game and St Colmcille's will know what they have to do to defeat the Division 1 league winners this time round. Each player will be astutely aware of their opponent's capabilities and it will make for an interesting game in Slane on Saturday afternoon.