Enniskillen and Belnaleck will meet in the Kevin Courtney Garages Intermediate Championship semi-final on Sunday evening in Kinawley (6pm) and both sides will see it as a good opportunity to progress through to the final.

This is expected to be a closely contested encounter and certainly the two league games between the sides this year would indicate that.

The two sides have enjoyed good league campaigns and are through to the Division Two semi-finals with promotion still on the table for both clubs, while they have brought that good form into the championship.

Enniskillen caused something of a surprise when they comfortably defeated a Kinawley side who had finished fourth in Division One this season in the quarter-final and while Belnaleck drew their quarter-final with Maguiresbridge, they signalled their intent with a dominant display in the replay.

A central figure in Enniskillen’s win over Kinawley was Richard O’Callaghan who has fitted back into the side after returning from two years in Australia. He admits though that is it s much changed side to the one he left behind with the Ulster Minor Club winning side filtering into the senior outfit.

“I returned towards the end of the league and it was good to be back involved. I actually wouldn’t have played with too many of the boys as they came in when I was away and for me it has been about getting to know them as players. I’m really enjoying it, they are a good group, they are willing to work hard and those younger lads know what it is to win,” he said.

O’Callaghan knows though that if the Gaels are to make it through to the final then they are going to have to be right on top of their game.

“I watched Belnaleck last Thursday night and they were very good. They are big and strong and Colm (Bradley) would seem to have them in good shape. You look at the likes of the Cullens, Kane Connor and Ciaran McBrien who were all involved with the county this year and then they have some good young players as well so we know that it is going to take a big performance but when an opportunity like this is there you want to take it,” he said.

That is an opinion echoed by Belnaleck’s Kane Connor who is a key figure for his side.

“Both teams will feel that it is a massive chance to get to a final. There has been close games between the sides this year and both have plenty of good young players and I would expect it to be another tight affair. It is a semi-final and we would love to push on and get to the final,” said Connor.

Belnaleck needed a replay to see off Maguiresbridge in the quarter-final and Connor was simply pleased to get over the hurdle at the second time of asking.

“We were glad to get a second bite because we could have lost it that first day but we knew what to expect the second day and we’re just happy to get over them.”

He believes though they will face a tougher test on Sunday evening.

“The semi-final will be a step up, they are a well coached side and we will see that on Sunday. I think it will come down to who gets on top in the middle third,” he said.