Strong Fermanagh championship pedigree clashes head on

Two of the aristocrats of Fermanagh football, Teemore and Devenish, will clash in the second quarter final of the Senior Football Championship. The game, to be played at Derrygonnelly has a 7.00pm on Saturday start time and is another intriguing encounter.
On paper Devenish deserve to be the warmest of favourites against a Teemore side who have struggled in the league this season but the Shamrocks have the richest of championship traditions and will enter this game fully believing that they are good enough to grind out a win.
This point is not lost on Devenish boss Malachy Cullen;
“Championship is all on the day and as well as being ready to perform physically you have to be ready mentally as well and there is no doubt that we won’t be taking Teemore lightly in any way, because the minute you did that you would be beaten.
“They have a brilliant championship tradition and we have to be ready for them,” he explained.
His counter part in Teemore, Tommy Clarke says that his side are looking forward to the challenge;
“It is good to get to the championship and put the league to bed for while. Devenish are a very good team and well set up and we know we will have to be at our very best to beat them. But we are really looking forward to the game.”
Teemore have had a difficult year with injuries, although Clarke has never used that as an excuse for his side’s poor form but there is no doubt that with a full side to pick from they are a different proposition.
This weekend they should be able to select from a strong deck with Eoin McManus a slight worry with a hamstring injury but the county man should make the starting line up and he ads real firepower from both play and frees. Jason McCaffrey has been Teemore’s best performer over the season and is a powerful figure around the middle with John Fitzpatrick a forward who has been impressive throughout the year.
Devenish have been very consistent throughout the season and have qualified for a league semi final.
With county man Barry Mulrone operating in the forward line they have been potent in attack with the likes of Chris O’Brien and JJ O’Brien adding to the mix in attack. Martin Doherty, Jason Love and the experienced Marty O’Brien are other top performers for Devenish.
The game itself looks set to go down to the wire. Teemore will inevitably raise their performance and will go into the encounter with total belief that they can secure a place in the last four.
For Devenish they will know that they have been playing well but that they must continue in the same vein if they are to get the win. As alluded to by their manager, Malachy Cullen, any type of complacency or mental fragility will have Devenish in trouble.
The Garrison men are an excellent side when playing well and they are well capable of making a breakthrough and should be considered dark horses for the New York Cup.