Devonshire Cougars and Somerset Trojans may be installed as the two favourites to win the Friendship Trophy this season following the exit of teams like Dandy Town, PHC and North Village, but Hamilton Parish and St David’s will both be pushing hard for a first appearance in the final.

And if Monday’s semi-final draw pits them against each other then one of them will be guaranteed a first place in the final on New Year’s Day.

Kieshon Smith, the Hamilton Parish coach, does not have a preference but St David’s player-coach Otis Minors admits he would not mind being drawn against the defending champions Cougars in the semi-finals, which will be held at Wellington Oval and Goose Gosling Field next week.

“I can’t wait for the draw and I don’t really care who we get, we don’t fear anybody but respect them all,” said Smith, who won several trophies as a player with Devonshire Colts before an ankle injury ended his career in his mid-20s in 2000.

Neither team has won a major football title, with both limiting their success to promotions and Shield titles. Parish did reach the final of the FA Cup in 2004-05 where they lost to North Village. Survival this season is priority number one for both clubs.

“To be honest we’re really not concentrating too much on the Friendship Trophy, but whatever happens happens,” insisted Minors, who has been forced to play a few matches lately because of injuries and suspensions.

“I told the guys after we lost the [league] game against Onions that whatever happens the following week we will continue to train, put in the work and there won’t be any break over Christmas for them.

“I would rather have Cougars than anybody else, because to meet them in a final would be tough for us to get over them, but I would like to meet them in the semi-final.

“Earlier in the season [league] we came out with a draw but they dominated the match. I have played the last three games due to players being suspended, injured and work commitments so I wouldn’t say I’m full-time, just emergencies. The legs are definitely getting older.”

St David’s earned their spot in the semi-finals after a surprise 5-1 win over Flanagan’s Onions, a week after the same team thrashed them 5-0. That result left St David’s in last place in the standings, but still with plenty to play for in the second half of the season as just three points separate them from Southampton Rangers in sixth place.

“I don’t want teams to think they can get over us real easy, we’re going to give anybody some competition,” said Minors.

“I think we have the players to compete in this league, and I’ve been preaching that to them for the past two years, that they can compete at this level, that they just need to work harder. They have been committed all year and when I asked them to train over Christmas they had no problems training.”

Added Minors: “For the football team it is about time we got some silverware down here to show that we are a club that can play cricket and football. For us it has just been us winning the First Division league a few times, not too much to shout about and it is time for change.”

Changes are slowly coming at Parish, a team with an enviable youth programme that will certainly stand the club in good stead for years to come. But it is immediate success that coach Smith craves.

“Winning a trophy in the Premier Division is one of the reasons why we play the game,” said Smith, who has former North Village stalwart Joe Trott as his assistant coach.

“We’ve been accustomed over the last three seasons to winning trophies [Shield titles] and if they say that winning becomes a habit then we must seize this opportunity. I’ve told my players that it is not just competing for a trophy but just playing at this time of year. When I was playing all the best footballers wanted to play over the Christmas holiday because of the atmosphere.

“The more things we have to compete for, the more things that give us incentive to train and get better. This opportunity in the Friendship gives us a chance to put ourselves out there and get some Premier Division glory. Nobody remembers what you did down in the First Division.

“This experience, whether we’re successful or not, will go a long way towards our survival hopes and programme in general. It will give us that added belief that we can compete in this division.”

College student Shakeen Albuoy scored twice in the 3-1 win over Rangers in the quarter-finals as Parish welcomed back some of their college students.

“He [Albuoy] is part of the Burgess family, born and bred in the area and first cousins of Nigel and Tyrell and is a real good addition to the team,” said Smith.

“With the likes of Ian Coke and Shayne Hollis, I’m looking for them to form a formidable partnership along with Donovan Thompson, my leading goalscorer and young player of the year.”