Mannok Fermanagh SFC quarter-finals
Belleek v Teemore (Saturday, Belleek, 3.30pm)
ERNE Gaels bid to reach a third successive Fermanagh SFC final on Saturday with the big news in the club the fact talisman Ultan Kelm is on the brink of a move to Australian Rules football.
The Belleek club made a bold statement of intent by bringing on board Donegal management duo Declan Bonner and Paul Brennan at the start of the year.
But, once again, old rivals Derrygonnelly caught them with a sucker-punch goal in the 65th minute last weekend to leapfrog straight into the semi-final on a 1-9 to 1-8 scoreline.
The Gaels have loads of experience and Ryan Lyons, Brian Mullin, Aogan Kelm, Oisin Kelm, Jack McCann, Tommy McCaffrey and Shane Rooney are all key performers.
With a semi-final place against Enniskillen on the line, they host Teemore, who won this year’s Division Two title, and were edged out by Belnaleck in their final group game 2-7 to 1-8.
Jointly managed by Tony Collins and Barry Owens, the Shamrocks have top performers in Ronan McCaffrey, Cian McManus, veteran Damien Lee, Aaron McManus, the three McNally brothers and Jack Quinlan.
McCaffrey has been showing up well for Fermanagh seniors while Cian McManus is also a real driving force.
A lively looking Gaels have been good at creating clear-cut goal chances but less able to convert them, while Teemore are really in bonus territory.
They will be free to have a real cut at the Gaels, whose full back-line has been suspect at times.
Conversely, the Gaels have an edge in experience and in firepower. Shane Rooney has been top scoring while Ultan Kelm, Aogan Kelm and Dan McCann have also been scoring freely.
Kinawley v Ederney (Sunday, Kinawley, 1pm)
KINAWLEY have endured some agonising defeats in big matches the past couple of years, losing to Erne Gaels in the 2022 Division One final before coughing up a seven-point lead to Derrygonnelly in last year’s championship semi-final.
The lost 2-7 to 0-7 to Enniskillen in their final group games and host Ederney with a semi-final spot against reigning champions Derrygonnelly up for grabs.
Dom Corrigan’s Kinawley side have immense physical power around the middle of the field and in central sectors in Paul and Ciaran Breen, Aichlinn O’Cathain, Paddy McGovern and Sean McManus.
Add in the two wily Corrigan brothers, Tomas and Ruairi, who are always a handful for any defence and the scoring power of Dara Cathchart and you see why they are hot favourites to advance to the last four.
Opponents Ederney have been performing heroically in the continued absence of eight regular players all season.
There woes increased when county star Sean Cassidy, who was had just returned to action, sustained an injury which rules him out for the rest of the season.
But cometh the crisis cometh the one and only Martin McGrath, who flicked home the vital goal in their 1-13 to 0-12 win over Devenish.
Given the quality of Ederney’s list of absentees, they are certainly in bonus territory.
But, like Teemore, Chris Kelly’s young charges have nothing to lose and have pace to burn right through the side.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the senior championship, Devenish face Belnaleck in a relegation play-off this evening in Derrygonnelly at 5.30pm.
