Intriguing contests lie ahead after championship draws

Editorial Department • Published 11 Feb 2010 09:25 0 Comments

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Derrygonnelly Harps have been handed a tough draw to start their defence of the New York Cup.<<

The draw for the Fermanagh club championships took place on Monday night and it threw up some enticing ties with some mouth watering encounters in prospect over the summer.

Holders Derrygonnelly Harps are going to have to do it the hard way if they are to retain the title they won by defeating Roslea in last year's final after they were drawn against Newtownbutler in the first round. Both teams have a bit of pedigree at this level and this has the promise of a tight affair. And it gets no easier for either side with the winners set to meet Devenish in the semi-final.

Maybe the tie of the first round though is the meeting of Belcoo and Roslea, with Raymie Gallagher set to pit his wits against Peter McGinnity. Both of these sides will be among the fancied teams for the New York Cup with Roslea looking to building on last year when they won the league and reached the championship final, while Belcoo have a lot of promising young players coming through to complement the experience of Stephen Maguire and Shane McCabe. Again this is one that could go either way, and the winner of this game would rightly have to be considered as serious contenders.

Waiting for whoever comes out of that game will be the winners of the tie between Teemore and Tempo, and yet again this is a tough one to call as both sides will be hoping to make an impression when they action starts in April.

The other first round tie is an all Division Two meeting of Kinawley and former kingpins Enniskillen Gaels. Kinawley won the Intermediate title last year and will be looking to progress in 2010 although they will be aware that this is going to be a difficult proposition, especially if the Gaels can find a bit of form in Division Two. The winners of this game will then face a clash against an Erne Gaels side who earned promotion last year to Division One and are certainly an improving force in Fermanagh football.

The quarter-final line up will be completed by the game between St. Joseph's and 2008 champions St. Pat's who will be looking to make up for a disappointing season in 2009 by turning around their fortunes this season.

Lisnaskea will be favourites to clinch the Intermediate title and will play Aughadrumsee in the quarter-finals although Brookeboro will also fancy their chances while Coa could well be dark horses in the competition.

The senior hurling championship has seen Knocks Grattans enter a team and they will take on Lisnaskea in the semi-final while champions Lisbellaw await the winners in the final.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 11 Feb 10

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