Ratoath’s Daithi McGowan could be a key player if his side is to overcome Na Fianna in Sunday’s semi-final and book their place in the SHC decider.

Rampant Ratoath all set for march to the final

There was a comment passed in the Pairc Tailteann stand during the SHC quarter-final between Na Fianna and Longwood that the reward for the winner was similar to the prospect of facing down a ravenous lion in a tiny cage with a fist full of sirloin.

It's hard to argue with that rather over-the-top analogy and while Na Fianna are unlikely to approach Sunday's SHC semi-final against Ratoath in Pairc Tailteann from 5pm with such trepidation and fear, they are well aware of the enormity of the task.

Since the introduction of two groups for the senior hurling championship in 2017 only once has a side from Group B, Trim in 2018, managed to make it to the final with the general consensus being that the Group A sides are the main contenders.

Na Fianna stand just 60 minute from emulating Trim's run of two years ago.

Back then Trim went into a semi-final with 'no chance', but they upset the odds by beating a highly fancied Kildalkey side before eventually losing the final to Kiltale.

Despite that precedent there is something about Saturday's semi-final that suggests the gulf between Na Fianna and Ratoath is far greater than the difference between Trim and Kildalkey in 2018.

Or is there being too much read into Ratoath's 15-point demolition of champions Kildalkey in the final group game that earned a place directly in the semi-final?

Since winning the IHC in 2017 Ratoath have been growing in reputation. They have been consistent in reaching the knock-out stages of the SHC and that continued progression has seen them now installed as hot favourites for, not just victory against Na Fianna, but the Jubilee Cup.

While not as spectacular, Na Fianna's most recent stay in senior hurling has also seen them make quite the impact.

When you consider that Na Fianna lost out to Navan O'Mahonys after a replay in the 2017 IHC final and O'Mahonys' subsequent incessant battles against relegation, to which they finally succumbed to last week, then it is credit to the Enfield/Baconstown combination that they are contesting a SHC semi-final.

Operating out of Group B they missed out on a place in Group A for this year when losing their last group game to Trim in 2019, narrowly in Rathmolyon, but they made no mistake this year and because they have advanced further in the 2020 reconstructed championship than Kilmessan (Group B2 winner) they will compete at the top table in 2021.

However, that is not the extent of their ambitions. Now that Na Fianna are in a semi-final after an impressive quarter-final showing against Longwood, they will fancy their chances of causing an upset.

They have the firepower to knock Ratoath off their stride.

Players like Mark Slevin and Barry Slevin are ace marksmen, while the pace of Will Flynn and Shane Walsh will cause Ratoath problems.

Ethan Devine's powerful runs from midfield, Peter Slevin's incessant work rate and the defensive solidity of Diarmuid Bailey and Oisin McCluskey add a superb spine to Mike Cole's well-drilled and supremely organised side.

Sean Martin's sweeper role has been key to Na Fianna's success and Cole will once again look to Martin's deeper deployment as a way of curtailing Ratoath's rampant, and at times, unstoppable looking attack.

There are plenty of contenders throughout the county for the most accurate free-takers and at the risk of offending one or forgetting another we won't name them, but you can rest assured there are few better at that particular job than Ratoath's Podge O'Hanrahan.

Also no slouch from play as he links up with his colleagues cleverly and brilliantly, O'Hanrahan is lethal from frees from anywhere inside 80-metres and just about from any angle so Na Fianna need to be disciplined in their defending.

Getting close to the Ratoath attackers and resisting the urge and possible necessity to foul them is going to be a difficult ask for Na Fianna.

If they give players like Cian Rogers, Daithi McGowan, Gavin McGowan and O'Hanrahan half an inch they will be punished.

Positions and numbers on their backs mean very little for Ratoath as every one of their players are as capable and comfortable doing a colleagues job as they are at doing their own, but there are few better centre-backs in the county, and probably the country, than Darragh Kelly.

Classy, neat and effective, Kelly is also hard as nails, uncompromising and single-minded in perfecting his art.

If Na Fianna can find a way past Kelly they will be half way there - easier said than done.

There is no doubt that both Na Fianna and Ratoath are two of the most promising sides in Meath, but Ratoath have been building up knock-out experience over the last two years and if they can find even half the form they showed in their superb victory over Kildalkey then it could be a long afternoon for Na Fianna.