Two of the fancied sides for the Intermediate Championship clash on Sunday in Garrison when Devenish host Derrylin.

The two sides, which have both played in Division One, have already encountered each other this season when the O’Connells came out on top.

Indeed, Derrylin go into the competition as the highest-seeded team, given their finishing spot in the league, and both sides will know that the winner of the game will have put themselves in a strong position to progress to the knock-out stages.

Derrylin Manager Sean Donnelly believes that all the clubs in the competition will have an expectation of doing well.

“If you look at all eight teams, all of them will feel that they have a chance in it. It will be very competitive; Devenish, St Pat’s and ourselves all played in Division One and then you have the likes of Irvinestown who won the Division Two title and have been going really well,” he said.

And Donnelly acknowledges that his side face a massive test in their opening game against Devenish.

“It is a big one to start with; Devenish are always a good championship side, but if we could get something out of this it might lift the pressure a bit as that would be our away game out of the way,” added Donnelly.

Devenish will have been disappointed with their relegation from Division One after 41 consecutive seasons in the top flight, but they did show glimpses of what they can do, defeating both Enniskillen and Belnaleck in the league and they are a hard side to beat in Garrison.

Devenish joint Manager Marty O’Brien knows that they will need big performances if they are to challenge in the championship, but he is looking forward to getting started this weekend.

“We’re looking forward to the championship – it’s a massive test for us next week with Derrylin showing in the league their quality.

“I think, looking at the fixtures in both sides of the draw, there’s no easy games at all, so we know we need a big performance this week and for the next three weeks, so the pressure is on, but that’s what we’re here for – that’s championship football,” he said.