Roslea ‘were the one we wanted’ according to Erne Gaels sharpshooter Seamus Ryder. 
The experienced forward didn’t hide the fact that a another crack at the Shamrocks in the white heat of championship action has whetted the appetite of the Belleek men ahead of Sunday’s clash.
Last season at the same stage Roslea defeated Erne Gaels after a replay with many feeling that the losers had plenty of chances to win the game the first day. Indeed, they were in control for long periods of the first game but on the second day out it was Roslea who dominated to book their place in the final.
“We were disappointed last year and felt we should have got through but we didn’t and Roslea are an excellent team and they have been the best team in Fermanagh over the last five or six years for a reason,” commented Ryder.
The refreshingly honest Ryder makes no bones about his desire to put Roslea to the sword and sees it as a compliment for the Shamrocks;
“The way we are looking at it is that Roslea were the one we wanted.
“If you are going to win a championship then you are going to have to beat Roslea, that is how good they are, and we want that chance again.”
Ryder has been in brilliant form himself this season and he says that the competition for places among the Erne Gaels squad is something that has contributed to the good form of Erne Gaels over the last number of years.
“You are always looking over your shoulder and I mean every player is looking over their shoulder. 
“We have had a couple of very good underage teams over the past few years and those players are coming through now and they are really pushing everyone to be at their best.”
Erne Gaels enjoyed a decent league campaign this year finishing in the top four although it was their form in the latter part of the league that will give most optimism to their supporters.
“We were a little bit hit and miss in the early part of the league but we got things together well in the last four or five games and that really stood to us coming into the championship,” explained Ryder.
In that league campaign Erne Gaels defeated Roslea twice although the full forward was not planning to read too much in to those games.
“Obviously you prefer to win games than lose them but championship is championship and that is where we have to prove ourselves now.”
Erne Gaels certainly proved themselves against Irvinestown in the first round with a comfortable win that included some sparkling forward play and the candid Ryder accepted that the team were delighted with the result.
“You would have to pleased with how we played. 
“We would have been happy with a one point win so to play the way we did and put up that score was good but that’s over now and we have to look forward to the next challenge.”
That challenge of course is Roslea and Ryder believes that there are threats all over the pitch from the former county champions.
“It is understandable that teams focus on the two Quigleys in attack but Roslea have good players all over. 
“Obviously the two boys are brilliant players and they are probably worth 13 or 14 points on any given day so I think it is important that we try and focus on ourselves as much as possible. 
“We are going to have to go out and play very well and that is what we should be looking at.”
This encounter promises to be a cracking game and if Seamus Ryder can continue the form he has shown to date he could very well have a large say in who will reach the county final this year.