This year’s Intermediate Championship final see two clubs with very different records coming into the game.

Irvinestown have been crowned champions four times since the turn of the century, the most recent triumph coming in 2015, while Belnaleck have to look as far back as 1974 to see the last time their name was etched in the history books.

But history will count for nothing on Sunday and the only numbers both teams will be worried about will be the scores at the end of the game.

Junior champions in 2017, Belnaleck went on to contest the Ulster Final and they have brought that winning mentality through to this year’s Intermediate competition.

A dogged Maguiresbridge side nearly clawed their way back into contention in the quarter final and very nearly snatched victory, but Belnaleck were able to take it to a replay.

In the replay they made sure there was going to be no repeat of the first day as they completely dominated proceedings and ran out convincing nine point winners.

The semi final saw them come up against a fancied Enniskillen Gaels side. In a game where they were three points down early in the second half, they fought their way back to win by two points.

Their captain Conor McAuley says his team are looking forward to try and bridge the 44 year gap but at the same time not let the weight of history bear too heavy on this young team’s shoulders..

“Our main target this year would have been to stay in the Intermediate championship and getting this far is a great achievement.

“It’s big in our history but we are trying to look away from that and concentrate on what’s ahead of us.

“The fact we have only come up from Junior people wouldn’t have been expecting it from us so we just want focus and take it as another game.”

McAuley is under no illusions of the challenge that faces him and his team but hopes that there is enough quality to take them over the line with the likes of experienced county footballers, All Star nominee Che Cullen, brother Lee and Kane Connor.

“It will be a tight game. We know Irvinestown have a lot of fast players. We probably have a bit of physicality over them but if we fall into their gameplan it will be tough.

“We are a young up and coming team but we have a lot of experience. We have a nice blend between the older players and a good base of younger players who have slotted in nicely.”

Belnaleck are making massive strides both on and off the pitch as they strive to play at the highest level. The redevelopment of their grounds and the success of their senior team are intertwined and Conor knows that lifting the trophy on Sunday is another huge step in the right direction.

“It’s good that we are progressing. We are trying to bring the club on and to make the step up to Intermediate and to try and make a name for ourselves. You have seen in other years any team that wins the Junior usually goes straight back down. We are happy that we are still here,” explained Conor.