Kinawley v Erne Gaels

Saturday August 29

in Derrygonnelly, 3pm

Intermediate champions Kinawley make their return to Senior Championship football this Saturday when they face Erne Gaels in Derrygonnelly.

The Borus have been one of the standout teams in Division One so far under new manager Ollie Fay and they have shown their quality with impressive victories over Enniskillen, Belnaleck and Derrygonnelly.

However, Kinawley defender Paddy McGovern knows that championship is a different level and recognises the challenges posed by Belleek.

“It’s a big challenge against Erne Gaels. They have been one of the top teams in Fermanagh this last few years and it’s a big challenge for us but we are definitely looking to push on and we will be looking for a big result on Saturday.”

Erne Gaels’ Jack McCann knows that Kinawley have quality throughout their side and the Belleek side will have to be at their best to curtail them.

“They are going to be very difficult to stop,” said the versatile Erne Gaels player.

“They have been coming good this last number of years.

“They have a lot of strength up front with the two Corrigans and Tom Keenan and also a very good solid defence and midfield.

“But we are focussed on putting as good a performance on Saturday and try get good spells of us playing well in the game and to prolong our periods of dominance.”

While Kinawley have impressed in the league, Erne Gaels have been inconsistent and McCann hopes that his side have learned from the games they have played.

“We probably would have liked to perform better throughout the league.

“We did perform well in patches in certain games but we didn’t have a full squad available a lot of the time which definitely didn’t help us.

“But we will take the positives from them performances and bring them to the game on Saturday.”

McGovern says the Borus have been happy with the league so far and the performances of the team and that is what they will be focussing on when the sides meet on Saturday, a strong Kinawley performance.

“League has been good so far, in every game we have learnt a lot.

“Ollie is going well all the lads have bought in to what he wants us to do and there’s no questions being asked.

“We are worrying about our own performance. We are not worrying too much about Erne Gaels.”

Kinawley should be able to call on a full squad of players however, Belleek will have to do it without the services of key personnel in the shape of the suspended Tommy McCaffrey, the injured Ultan Kelm and Ryan Lyons who is now in Australia.