Out of the teams remaining in the Intermediate Championship, Erne Gaels would have been the one to avoid.

The Belleek outfit were strong favourites from the outset to return to Senior Championship and they showed their credentials with aplomb when they dismantled Maguiresbridge by 25 points in the quarter final.

Seamus Ryder’s men hit five goals and did not have to call on the Australia bound Ultan Kelm for that game but they did welcome back Ryan Lyons who has moved home after a stint Down Under.

For Irvinestown boss, Lawrence Largo-Elis, he knows his side will be up against it, but he is hopeful Sunday is the day to catch Belleek on the hop.

“You don’t get easy ones in the semi final. No matter who we would have got we would have been up against it,” said Largo-Elis who feels the pressure is off his players after their quarter-final win over Lisnaskea.

“The shackles are off, the monkey is off the back. There is no threat of a relegation battle so we can give it a go and there is nothing to be afraid off now, there is a place in the final to be had.”

He knows the strength that Belleek have but in a one-off game, he hopes that anything can happen.

“They are a handy outfit but everybody is beatable on the day and that’s championship football.”

Irvinestown will be without Kevin McDonnell with a collarbone injury and with late calls having to be made on some players, Largo-Elis sees Sunday’s game as a chance for some younger players to gain experience.

“It’s a chance for the younger lads to step up and seeing as we are the underdogs it’s about enjoying yourself.

“Lets play a bit of football believe in themselves back themselves and see where it takes you.

“It’s one hour of football anything can happen. If we keep ourselves in the game and don’t let them score goals we will have a shot.”

Erne Gaels manager, Seamus Ryder, is not looking any further than the challenge on Sunday.

Despite it being a poor league campaign for Irvinestown he knows they have quality players to cause problems.

“We are expecting a tough battle. They are a seasoned division one team. I know they were relegated this year but they were missing players throughout the league so I will be expecting a completely different game from them.

“They have a couple of good players like the two Largo-Elis’ (Josh and Jack), Stephen Sheridan, Gary Maguire and Kevin Duffy.”

Whereas Ryder’s men racked up a massive 5-14 against Maguiresbridge, he is expecting to come up against a more compact defence on Sunday going on what he seen during Irvinestown’s two games with Lisnaskea.

And Irvinestown is all his side are focussed on: “We know if we don’t play well they will be beating us.

“Against Lisnaskea they were very hard to break down. Their defence was very organised so I’m expecting a tough battle there and scores might be at a premium.

“We picked up a couple of knocks unfortunately but that’s what we have and I’m happy with the men to come in so if we put in a performance hopefully it will be enough to get us the win,” Ryder added who was pleased with the return of Ryan Lyons to the team.

“It’s good to have Ryan back. You can see when he came on the influence he had, good on the ball, a leader and good to have him back especially when we have lost Ultan.”