On league form, Erne Gaels will be firm favourites going into their championship meeting with Tempo Maguires on Saturday evening in Derrygonnelly (7pm).

The Belleek outfit are riding high at the top of the Division One table, seven wins and draw from their nine games played leaving them two points clear over Derrygonnelly and Roslea while opponents Tempo have struggled for form and sit fourth from bottom of the table.

However, Erne Gaels manager Maurice McLaughlin stresses that the form book goes out the window when it comes to championship football and he is expecting a very tough clash against the Maguires.

“The league and championship are two different competitions and sometimes the level of intensity is lifted greatly from the league to championship,” he said. “The way that I look at it is that it is a 50-50 game and league positions will count for nothing. From our perspective, we’ll be looking for a performance and if we get that then I would hope that we will be there or thereabouts.” Tempo boss Colm Bradley admits that his side face a massive test in Derrygonnelly but it is one that his players are relishing.

“They will obviously be favourites given the respective league campaigns of the two teams and they have been the best team in Fermanagh this year so we know we face a big challenge. Having said that we are looking forward to it and I think Championship always brings about a bit of a buzz in any squad and Tempo are no different,” he commented.

Bradley also feels that with the championship now reduced to eight sides, whoever can hit form at the right time will feel they have every chance of succeeding.

“With only eight teams in the senior championship every team will be thinking that they have a chance if they can produce their best. As far as we are concerned we will be trying to do just that, produce our best performance of the year and I’m sure Erne Gaels are the same.” Erne Gaels are an athletic, youthful side and have shown that they are capable of beating the best in the county this year. The key now for them will be taking their league form into championship. Brian Mullins helps provide a strong platform at midfield while they also have good scoring power with Seamus Ryder, Luke Ryder, Tommy McCaffrey and Ryan Lyons all score getters.

Tempo though have no shortage of quality themselves and have a strong backbone to the side that includes Conor Foy, Aidan Breen, Damian Kelly and Ryan Keenan although they are without talisman Daryl Keenan who has been plagued with injury throughout the season and is a huge loss. This could well be a fascinating contest and there might be little seaprating the sides either way at the finish.