Ultan Kelm is on a mission to make it three championship wins in 2023.

Having decided to head west to Chicago for the summer to play with Wolfe Tones, the Erne Gaels man was instrumental as his side won the Chicago GAA Championship before winning the North American Senior Football Championship in Denver, Colorado.

Two trophies in 10 weeks of football for Kelm.

"Champions of the world as the Americans call it," joked Kelm, who returned to Erne Gaels training last week.

"I had to search the house for gloves," he said as he became acclimatised to the Irish weather once again.

Looking back on his American adventure, Kelm described it as "unreal" and while he will always have the memories of winning those two championships, winning one with the boys he grew up with is all the more special.

"It's something completely different," explained Kelm about playing with Wolfe Tones. "You are with boys you have never met before for 10 weeks in America and it's unreal winning over there and it is some experience.

"You can have all the best footballers in the world over there but if you don’t gel as a group that’s what makes the difference. As a squad over there we did gel well in the short space of time.

"But playing with the boys you have grown up with, it's something different and with Belleek.

"Especially when you haven’t won a championship in so long to get over the line would be something serious."

Now he is back on Irish soil his full focus is on trying to help his home club get over the line and bringing the New York Cup to the Fermanagh-Donegal border once again.

"It was good getting back getting back involved with the boys. When you are away for that long it is good to get back and catch up.

"I suppose the boys had an alright league campaign. We lost a few games at the end when we could have pushed on for a league final but it's good to get back involved and all eyes are on the championship."

Last year, Erne Gaels were on a high coming into the Senior Championship after winning the SFL Division One title. They reached the final, only to be well beaten by Enniskillen Gaels on the day.

For Kelm and co., that final performance is providing plenty of motivation for them this year.

"We didn’t feel like we did ourselves justice that day at all. It was just one of those days that nothing really clicked.

"[But it's] the same as last year we are going out to win the whole lot. Every team in the championship is going to be saying the same thing.

"We have that bit more motivation to prove a point but we are going to take it game by game. There is a lot that has to happen for us to get back in that position but we are looking no further than the group."

It is a familiar-looking group for Erne Gaels as well.

They open with a home game against Belnaleck this weekend, just like last year. Then their final game is in Garrison against Derrygonnelly, just like last year.

"There's going to be no easy games, especially Roslea up in Rosela and Derrygonnelly the same as last year we played them up in Garrison and it's the same draw this year.

"With their league form they will be coming in with their tails up and not winning last year they’ll be gunning for it again.

"There is never anything between us [and Belnaleck]. The boys drew with them in the league this year. We drew with them in that first game last year as well.

"But I suppose it is about focussing on ourselves and [for me] trying to get a few games under my belt and getting back into the swing of things."

Many clubs saw their players head for America over the summer. But slowly they have all returned and Kelm believes the true strength of teams will only be seen when the championship gets underway.

"It's wide open this year, this year more so than ever. Especially with all the boys being away so you will not really know how teams are moving until the first game is played.

"It’s a hard one to call but I suppose you always have to back yourself," he concluded.