EVEN if it's back to the B division for Ireland's representatives in European circles next year, there will be no lessening" of enthusiasm in tomorrow's Nissan-sponsored Irish Senior Cup semi-finals.
Lisnagarvey, aiming to appear in the final for the ninth time in 10 seasons, are undoubted favourites as they tackle Banbridge at Blaris, while the indications are that Pembroke Wanderers will confirm their form in Leinster by overcoming Railway Union at Park Avenue.
Pembroke, though they beat Railway 5-0 in a recent league game, will be more conscious of their meeting at the start of the campaign when they barely held off their Sandymount rivals, 4-3. However, the Pembroke midfielders have developed into a powerful force in their rotation system in which Turlough O Siochain and Andy Cooke add to the impetus provided by Devin Donnelly and Paudie Carley.
Yet, in the continued absence of Peter Young, both Francis de Rosa and Ian Battle know that they must be attentive at the back, as Railway's Paul O'Brien is bound to attempt to storm through the middle, and there will also be danger from the thrusts of the centre-forward Stephen Moulton.
Railway have been disrupted in the latter half of the season by injuries to Graham Grumley, and Padraig O'Brien but if they have recovered their momentum, they may well make Pembroke's passage a tricky one.
Wanderers' path to this stage, though, has been marked by unflinching performances, notably by Nigel Henderson against Instonians, and fighting qualities were also in evidence in eliminating Glenanne and Holywood in the Cup. In contrast, the Railway journey has been less demanding in defeating Ballinahinch, Cookstown and Monkstown.
There is little doubt that a Pembroke-Lisnagarvey final at Belfield on April 26th would be the most attractive pairing.
With Lisnagarvey fielding virtually the same side as that which went under to Avoca in last season's epic final replay, they obviously retain much of their determination. They have beaten Banbridge in the Anderson Cup decider, but as the margin was no more than 2-1, tomorrow's game will still have some bite about it.
Lee Tumilty and David McAnulty will not allow Lisnagarvey any time to reflect on past glories but as the home side's resources remain so strong - with Alan Dowd, Jimmy Kirwood and Daniel Clarke still much to the fore and Mark Tumilty adding a fresh dimension - they will be expected to prevail.
