Derrylin enjoyed championship success only a matter of weeks ago when they won the delayed 2020 Junior title with victory over Coa after a replay – but they face a step up this Saturday when they begin their Intermediate Championship campaign with a game against Division One side Devenish at Brewster Park.

That Junior championship success, coupled with promotion to Division One, means that this year has been a very good one for the O’Connells, but boss Aiden Gilroy says that the key now for them is to stay at Intermediate level for 2022.

“That’s the big goal, to stay in the Intermediate Championship,”said Gilroy. “The target at the start was to win the Junior and then the promotion was a bonus, but it is now about remaining as an Intermediate team.

“We know that it is going to be difficult because it is a very competitive championship, and we just have to be on top of our game and hopefully that will be enough for us to compete.”

However, he knows that his side face a tough test against the Garrison outfit.

“Devenish are a seasoned Division One team, and after the surprise defeat they had last year they won’t want to get caught out again.

“They have also got a couple of promising young lads who are going well, so it is going to be a huge task but we are happy to have it.

“For us, it is about trying to get all the players fit and ready for the big day and try and get a big performance,” he added.

Devenish joint Manager Sylvester Mulrone acknowledges that as the Division One side, the pressure is probably more on Devenish coming into the game.

“I suppose people would see it as they have all to gain and nothing to lose, while we have nothing to gain and all to lose, but we have worked hard since the league finished and we know that we are coming up against an in-form team in Derrylin and we will be ready for it,” said Mulrone.

The Garrison side were on the end of a surprise defeat in last year’s championship when they were beaten by Aghadrumsee and Mulrone feels there are lessons to be learnt from that game, but knows it is all about performing on the day.

“That game, 12 months ago, we have to take the lessons from it but on Saturday night it will be about what transpires on the pitch when the whistle goes at the start of the game.

“Hopefully, all the work we have put in will help us improve on last year,” he added.

The loss of the experienced Barry Mulrone to injury during the year has been a blow for Devenish, but other than that they hope to be injury-free and Sylvester says that they are looking forward to the game.

“At the minute, Barry is the only one who is unavailable and we are looking forward to being back in a championship match at Brewster Park,” he said.