Having moved home from Australia, Ryan Lyons has been impressed with what he has seen since lacing up his boots for Erne Gaels once more.

Lyons was one of several Fermanagh players to make the move Down Under in 2020, and while football and life, in general, was hugely disrupted due to Covid-19, it was a time that saw the Belleek side drop down to Intermediate football.

For Erne Gaels, like Devenish, it is not where they want to be and Saturday’s final gives the sides a chance to bounce back up to the Senior Championship.

With Seamy Ryder and Ciaran Smith at the helm, Lyons feels there is a renewed optimism around the club: “It was good to be coming back when the team is on the up.

‘Structure’

“Seamy and Quey [Ciaran Smith] have put a structure into the whole set-up and it is something we haven’t had in a long time, and it’s giving the platform for the players not to have to worry about anything else [but football].”

But what was it like for himself, coming back from sunny Australia to a wet and windy Ireland, and getting back into the swing of things with the football?

“The ground is a bit softer, to say the least,” joked Lyons.

“It was a bit of shock.

“To be honest, I didn’t play a whole pile of football over there. I played seven or eight games. We were going well in the league then got beat in a league final,” said the 28-year-old who played for Sydney club Penrith Gaels while out there.

Lyons made his return to competitive football with Erne Gaels in the quarter-final of the Intermediate, when they easily overcame Maguiresbridge.

He felt it was a good match to bring himself back into the action but admits there is still plenty to get right to get back up to the speed of the game.

“No disrespect to the ’Bridge; I think we were seven points up whenever I came on, so we were in a pretty good place to come on.

“I played against Irvinestown and it was a much tighter game, much tenser, a bit more competitive, and I was a bit rusty, truth be told.

“I missed a couple of scores that I would expect; my first touch and handling were a bit off. I didn’t get up to the speed of the game as much as I thought I would have.

“But hopefully it has stood in me good stead for the weekend if Seamy gives me a starting berth.”

One thing that hasn’t changed in his time away is the challenge of Devenish.

The teams have met three times this year in league competitions and only a point has separated them on one occasion, while the other ended in draws.

With former Fermanagh teammates, Marty O’Brien and Barry Mulrone, among the management, Lyons knows they will be well up for the derby final.

And looking at their team, Lyons is impressed with the set-up they have: “They have a nice blend of experienced and young players.

“Jason and Luke in midfield are big units of men. Ruairi Doherty, Deccy Rasdale and Tom Treacy is a very good keeper. They are a good solid team all over. “

And Lyons knows that if Belleek aren’t up to the pitch of the game right away it could be a difficult evening for them.

“You know what you get with Garrison. They are extremely hard-working and physical.

“This year, the boys had a few tight games with them. We are going to need improvement in our own game. Unless we improve massively we will be in trouble.”

Very competitive

Saturday is the chance to make a quick return to Senior football and avoid another year in a very competitive Intermediate competition, something Lyons feels is vital for the likes of Erne Gaels and Devenish.

“I’m not a big fan of the promotion and relegation in Fermanagh; I don’t think many are for the championship.

“The fact that only one team goes up each year, it’s a dog fight down there, and you can find yourself in it for a few years if you don’t bounce back.

“Both Belleek and Garrison need to get back to Senior championship, competing with the top teams in the county, and hopefully we will be on the right side of the result on Saturday to get back there.”