At 2.30 this afternoon, Marist College, Athlone begin the unenviable task of trying to halt the ominous run of St Patrick's, Navan in the first Leinster football championship semi-final.

Marist are no strangers to this stage of the competition, but there's no denying the size of the challenge they face in Mullingar.

"St Patrick's would be hot favourites," says coach John Parker. "But we're certainly not going to make it easy for them.

We've had some good battles in the past and managed to beat them as often as they've beaten us, although there doesn't seem to be any weakness in this St Patrick's team at the moment."

The All-Ireland champions have carved a flawless route to the semi-final, including an 18point win over St Peter's in the quarter-final.

Marist are a younger team, but are not without quality, especially in the likes of James Tobin, Paul Dillon and Tom Fuery.

Unfortunately, they have lost two other key players - Luke Naughton and Paul Bannon - to injury.

In the last six years, Marist have lost two Leinster finals and three semi-finals. "Our preparations have gone well," adds Parker, "and these are a good bunch of lads.

"I have spoken to most of the teams that have played St Patrick's and they do seem to be particularly strong this year. But, of course, there is always the danger that they will be over-confident."

The second semi-final between St Mel's, Longford and St Michael's, Trim takes place tomorrow, also at St Loman's, Mullingar. St Mel's suffered a narrow defeat in last year's Leinster final. The Leinster hurling championship enters a similar stage at the weekend with the All-Ireland champions St Kieran's, Kilkenny taking on Dublin Colleges in the first semi-final - a repeat of last year's final.

Good Counsel meet Cistercian, Roscrea at Nowlan Park on Sunday in a curtain raiser to the Allianz League tie between Kilkenny and Tipperary.