The Intermediate Championship is one that most of the teams in the competition will believe that they can win, and this year is no different, with a lot of the teams fancying their chances of lifting the title.

The sides that played in Division One will probably come in with an advantage, having played their league football at that higher level, but you cannot discount the sides who competed at the top of Division Two either.

It was job done for Derrylin in terms of the league this year as they secured their Division One status and they will now look to make a push in the championship.

Manager Sean Donnelly has some talented young players to call on along with some more experienced hands. Luke Flanagan, Diarmuid Owens and Jake Smith have all impressed and are supplemented by the likes of Danny Leonard, Cathair Leonard and Eoin Maguire.

St. Pat’s also stayed in Division One following promotion last year, and they are another side who could give the championship a good rattle.

Manager Paul Hasson has a youthful side and they will look to the likes of Brian McDermott, Cameron McBrien, Joe Cadden and Paul Og O’Reilly to push them on.

Devenish were not so fortunate as they ended their 41-year stay in Division One with relegation on the final day of the campaign.

However, they are traditionally a good championship side, and they will be looking to go one better than last year when they were pipped by Erne Gaels in the final.

The will look to JJ O’Brien, Jason Love, Fionan O’Brien and Terry O’Flanagan to help them make a push for a return to the Senior ranks for 2023.

Irvinestown will come into the competition full of confidence after an excellent league campaign. Francie Ward’s side registered nine wins out of nine in the league and then followed that up with a come from behind win over Belcoo in the final.

The Largo Elis brothers, Josh and Jack, are key players for the St. Molaise side and, along with the likes of Ronan Ormsby, Kevin McDonnell and Gary Maguire, they have a talented bunch who will be contenders.

Belcoo looked to be on their way to victory on that league final after flying out of the blocks at the start of the second half before a goal turned the game back in Irvinestown’s favour.

The O’Rahillys have a lot of experience in their side in the shape of Niall Leonard, Paul McGrath, James McGrath and Ciaran Flaherty, while Eoin Shiels and Lawrence McKeown are also important players. They will believe that they have the tools at their disposal to challenge for honours.

Lisnaskea were another team who were in contention going into the final round of games in the league and will have been disappointed to miss out.

John Reihill’s side have quality operators in Joe McDade and Justy McDade, and they will need them to be at their best. They will also look to Hayden Lynch and Sean Keenan if they are to put themselves into contention.

It was a disappointing league campaign for Tempo as they failed to make a challenge for promotion.

However, they will be a side that others will be wary of in the championship and they are more than capable of going on a run.

Aidan Breen provides drive and experience in that middle third for Tempo; Tiarnan Bogue is another quality performer, while Ryan Breen and Oisin Murphy will be key men.

Last but not least is Maguiresbridge. It is only two years ago that the ’Bridge were in the final of the Intermediate Championship and they have a lot of those players still on board.

In Ciaran Corrigan, Sean Corrigan, Danny Teague and Rory Porteous, they have players who can give any of the teams in the competition trouble, and if they can keep them injury-free, they will hope to make it through the group stages and build from there.