Belnaleck and Newtownbutler will face off on Friday night at Brewster Park for the Junior Championship title.
The sides have already met twice in a drawn out championship process with the first game ending in a draw before Belnaleck came away with victory in the replay to secure their place in the final.
However, Newtown then overcame Aughadrumsee to book their spot in the decider and both managers are expecting little to separate the sides on Friday night.
“I can’t see there being much in it either way,” said Belnaleck boss Cathal Murphy. “The previous two games that we have had have been very close and I would expect that this will be along the same lines.”
And Newtown boss Vinny Connolly was in agreement.
“It’s an important game for both sides and in truth there is not a pile between us. It will be close and I’d feel that it will come down to who is the more clinical up front and takes their scores,” said Connolly.
Both sides have injury concerns to key personnel with Mark Gallagher a doubt for Belnaleck and Ryan Carson facing a race against time for Newtown although other than that the two teams are expected to be at full strength.
Belnaleck will look to the likes of the Cullen twins, Che and Lee, Kane Connor, Conor McAuley and Ciaran McBrien while Newtown are going to need big performances on the night from James Connolly, Brendan McBrien, Jarlath Jackman and Frank Mulligan.
The prize for the winners is not only the Junior Championship title but also a move up to the Intermediate Championship which is something the two clubs are keen on.
“That’s the big challenge, to get up to Intermediate. We have a young side but we have boys with county experience, that is a big factor for us, and they are starting to mature. We would like to get up and test ourselves at Intermediate level,” said Murphy.
For Connolly, the goal when he came in at the start of the year was to make a swift return to the Intermediate.
“When we took over the aim was to get out of the Junior and back to Intermediate, it’s not where we want to be. In saying that, it will be the same aim for Belnaleck and they are a good side with a number of players who have played for Fermanagh under Pete McGrath,” he commented.