Derrygonnelly Harps go into this year’s Competition as holders and will try to create history for the club as they look to defend the title, something they have never done.
The Harps side have won the SFC title 4 times (1195, 2004, 2009 and 2015) but have never been able to defend their title.
Roslea are second favourites and with Carrickmore’s Brian Gormley over them it’s clear the Shamrocks have found another elusive and hungry Tyrone man who will be looking to guide Roslea to a 4th SFC title in just 7 seasons.
Irvinestown last won the SFC crown in 1952 and Teemore became victorious last in 2005 and they both come up from the Intermediate grade, Erne Gaels have to go back to 1981, Devenish to 1996, Ederney 1968 and St Patricks Donagh 2008 so it’s quite clear plenty of sides will be hungry for SFC glory.
Irvinestown impressed in this year’s Division 1 and have some hugely talented players. Former Ardboe ace Ronan Campbell has had a colossal season around the middle for Shane Goan’s side while Ronan Ormsby, Stephen Sheridan, James Duffy and Liam Murphy are all capable of taking the game to Erne Gaels and looking to make progress in the Competition. Gary Maguire in the full forward line has had a fine year and defenders such as John Doonan and Tiarnan Daly have been exceptional tight. The Erne Gaels clash really is a watershed moment for both sides, it should be very close.
Teemore have a hugely talented team with players such as Barry Owens, Cian McManus, Eoin McManus and Ryan Maguire being just some of the names to excite supporters of the Mountain road club, and they will look forward to their clash with Devenish as a chance to lay down a marker for the Championship.
Experience is provided in defence by the likes of Damien Lee, Ciaran McManus and Joey Donegan while they have got the better of Devenish before in Derrygonnelly just two seasons ago. They have had an excellent league campaign with a top 4 finish sealing a Semi final place and they look well primed to give Devenish a huge game this Saturday evening.
St Patricks Donagh have been playing in Division 2 this season and will now be facing Kinawley for a chance of Division 1 league football in 2017. Under the watchful eye of local man Ogie Cadden, St Patricks have been handed the shortest straw with a Championship opener against neighbours Roslea Shamrocks.
Eamon Maguire, Patrick Grue and Patrick Cadden are the mainstays of the team and they have been backboned by a youthful resurgence in the club that sees the likes of Paul Og O’Reilly, Johnny O’Reilly and Shay Cadden making names for themselves in this seasons Division 2. A young side, if they show no fear and can play like they have been in division 2 this season then Roslea could be in for quite a game.
Ederney St Josephs will face up to Derrygonnelly Harps for a second season in a row and another Quarter Final clash in Brewster Park. Last season Derrygonnelly got the better of Ederney in a Quarter Final replay but new manager Aidan Gilroy has stepped in after former Tyrone goalkeeper Finbar McConnell stepped away after just 2 league games.
Ederney have lost both league games this season to Derrygonnelly but still have players such as Christopher Snow, Stephen McElrone, Paul McCusker, Declan McCusker, Enda Ferris and John Irvine who are all quality players and either past/current Fermanagh players. Younger talent such as Enda Cassidy and Oran McGee may be called upon but it’s likely Ederney will need big games from the aforementioned players and the likes of Martin McGrath and Aaron Dennison. If Ederney can perform on the day then they could easily topple the holders but it’s all about that one word, perform.
Roslea Shamrocks with SFC titles in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014 are side brimming with talent and experienced players and will be hell bent of winning back the Senior title off rivals Derrygonnelly.
Sean and Seamus Quigley are in all honesty relied on too heavily for scores and it really is up to other Roslea players to add more to the scoreboard if Brian Gormley wants to win a Fermanagh SFC crown at the first time of asking. James McMahon at centre half back and Niall Cassidy are two key defenders for the Shamrocks while younger players to note such as Conor Lynam, Diarmuid McAleer and Niall Clerkin are all exciting talented players coming off the Roslea youth teams.
A clash with near neighbours St Patricks Donagh maybe just what Roslea needed as it will have Roslea pumped and ready to go, the Shamrocks should prove to be too good but any complacency on the Roslea side and it could be curtains for Roslea.
Erne Gaels have to go back to 1979 and 1981 for Senior Championship titles and come Saturday evening against Irvinestown they will be embarking on winning a first SFC title for 35 years. Manager Maurice McLaughlin has a strong squad to choose from and will know that his side has the quality to go all the way in this year’s Competition.
The less said about last year’s Semi final defeat to Roslea in a replay the better but this is an Erne Gaels side who now have the chance to go on and prove themselves to be the best in Fermanagh. Jack McCann has had a fine season in defence and he has been ably supported by Dara Keown. Ryan Lyons and Seamus Ryder in attack have done most of the Erne Gaels scoring, although Ronan Cox, Luke Ryder and Michael Og McGarrigle have also contributed handsomely. Some talented Erne Gaels minor teams are now blossoming into adult football and players such as Michael Heron, Dara Dolan and Colm Keown will be looking to make a name for themselves if giving the opportunity.
A strong Erne Gaels squad is there, can they put in a performance to beat Irvinestown on Saturday is the question?
Devenish have been going to the well for quite some time now but with nothing to show for it. They have a team packed with quality players but getting over the line in Fermanagh club football is never easy. Its way back in 1996 when the West Fermanagh club tasted Senior championship glory and for a team that has such quality footballers it is too long.
Malachy Cullen is manager this season and he has a strong Fermanagh contingent to choose from including Thomas Treacy, Martin O’Brien, Barry Mulrone and then former Fermanagh players such as Captain Terry O’Flanagan, John O’Flanagan, Chris O’Brien and Anthony McGuinness. The winner of the clash against Teemore on Saturday in Derrygonnelly will gather a vast amount of confidence ahead of a Semi final but it really is a game which is very hard to call.
Last but not least and it’s our County champions, Derrygonnelly Harps who will take to the field this Sunday in Brewster Park against St Josephs Ederney. The bookmakers are quoting odds of 6/4 for Derrygonnelly to win the SFC title once again and when you throw in that the Harps are the defending champions the pressure on the Derrygonnelly side becomes even heavier.
A hugely experienced squad with the likes of Ryan Jones and Paul Ward operating very well this season in attack as well as younger exciting talented players such as Stephen McGullion, Leigh Jones, Shane McGullion and Dennis Greene. The Derrygonnelly side have built up a mobility and pace that can damage sides with strong and robust counter-attacking thrusts. They are the side to beat and that will start when Ederney go toe-to-toe with them. It should be a fascinating contest.
