Mannok Fermanagh SFC round one (first-named teams at home)
Group A
Enniskillen v Teemore (tonight, Brewster Park, 8pm)
ENNISKILLEN Gaels have been the form team this year and winning the league title has given them some real momentum going into the championship writes Gerry McLaughlin.
They also have last year’s disappointing run as motivation but have a full deck with the likes of Ross Bogue, Jonny Cassidy, Brandon Horan, Conor Love, Callum Jones and Richie O’Callaghan and are probably favourites to regain a title they last held in 2022.
Opponents Teemore have a proud championship tradition and have just won promotion back to Division One, having been crowned Division Two champions after taking the intermediate title last year.
They are powered by county star Ronan McCaffrey, Eoin McManus, Cian McManus Damian Lee and Damian Quinlan.
Taking on the Gaels on their home patch is quite a challenge for any team, but it is one the Shamrocks will relish. However, anything other than a Gaels win would be a shock of seismic proportions.
Kinawley v Belnaleck (Saturday, 6pm)
KINAWLEY could be classed as being in the top four with Tomas and Ruairi Corrigan driving forces and their father, Dominic, at the helm.
They have been at the top table for quite a while and can be a handful for any club on their day.
And they could have beaten Derrygonnelly in last year’s county semi-final only to lose a big lead to the resilient Harps.
Apart from the Corrigan brothers, Kinawley have loads of experience in the likes of Niall Bogue, Shaun Doherty and Ciaran Breen, while there is also youthful promise in Paidi Drumm, Dara Cathcart and Caolan Brennan.
Opponents Belnaleck, who survived in Division One of the league after a poor start, have some powerful figures in Lee and Che Cullen and Darragh McGurn, who has savage pace and can also finish.
Kane Connors, Bryan Owens, Dwayne McNulty and Connor McCauley are also big players for a physically powerful outfit.
This could even end in a draw, but home advantage might just swing it for Kinawley.
Group B
Derrygonnelly v Devenish (Sunday 3pm)
EVEN before a ball is kicked in this weekend’s Fermanagh SFC opening round, the big bull elephant in the room is whether Ryan, Conall and Garvan Jones will be lining out for Derrygonnelly Harps in their home clash with Devenish?
Speculation has been mounting after the three powerful brothers did not tog out in the Division One final against Enniskillen, which the Harps lost a few weeks ago.
As of now, it is unclear if they will be togging out. If they are not, then it would be a major blow to the Harps as Ryan Jones has been their captain and spiritual leader, while all three have played senior football with the county.
However, the Harps also have powerful figures like Michael Jones, Shane and Stephen McGullion, Leigh Jones and Aaron Jones if they are absent.
They have youthful figures like Rian McGovern and Rory Joe Duffy, while the McKennas are experienced performers.
They remain a formidable force and will still have strong ambitions of retaining their title regardless of their line-out.
Devenish have a great championship tradition, and their chances would increase if the Jones trio were not on board.
But they are without the inspirational Barry Mulrone and Lanty Feely, big losses in a small panel.
Fionan O’Brien, Cian O’Brien, Jason Love and JJ O’Brien will battle hard, but it looks like the Harps will prevail with or without the three brothers.
Belleek v Ederney (Sunday 12.45 pm)
Erne Gaels have lost the last two county finals and have gone for broke by bringing in the high-powered management team of Declan Bonner and Paul Brennan from Donegal.
They have been dogged with injuries, but Bonner expects to be playing at full strength for the championship.
Ultan Kelm, Ryan Lyons, Aogan Kelm, Brian Mullin, Tommy McCaffrey, Shane Rooney and Jack and Dan McCann are top performers.
There is also a sense that it is do or die for them this year.
On Sunday, they lock horns with a mercurial Ederney, who they beat in last year’s championship, when Ederney had three players sent off.
Ederney could be dark horses and will be hoping to have ace forward Sean Cassidy back in action after a lengthy injury.
Under Chris Kelly, they are a well-drilled side and are powered by Paul and Declan McCusker, Sean Cassidy, Shay Deazley and Shaun McCarron. They will not fear Belleek in the slightest.
This could be a close encounter, but Erne Gaels look to have the better scoring forwards and could edge this affair at home.
