The Intermediate Championship may be looked upon as smaller in profile and publicity wise, but overall this competition once again remains arguably the most competitive of the three domestic competitions to win this season in Fermanagh Club football.
Derrylin shocked all of Fermanagh by winning the 2014 competition and it was Irvinestown who would defeat Teemore in the 2015 decider to bring the trophy to North Fermanagh for the first time since 2011.
Whoever makes the IFC Final are both promoted to next seasons SFC competition, while whoever loses the SFC Quarter Finals and then the Relegation Semi Finals are then demoted to the IFC competition the following season.
Last year seen Tempo and Derrylin lose both games in the Senior Championship and so drop down to this year’s Intermediate while finalists from IFC 2015 Irvinestown and Teemore move into SFC 2016.
Going into the competition it is quite hard to pick a favourite with division 1 and division 2 club teams competing so it is hard to gauge in Fermanagh club football when it comes to Championship time.
Enniskillen Gaels come in after a lethargic league display but with young talent such as Conor Carney, Michael Dooris and Sean McAleer progressing well it’s clear to see that the County town side certainly cannot be discounted. Richard O’Callaghan is a hugely experienced midfielder and Conor McAleer will cause plenty of problems to the best of defences. If they can get over Tempo then nobody will want to draw Enniskillen in a Semi final
Kinawley were to lose Tomas Corrigan to St Oliver Plunkett’s but new manager Mark Monaghan has had a terrific season with the Brian Boru’s and they await to play St Patricks Donagh in a Division 2 league final and the right to play Division 1 football in 2017. The Brian Boru’s face Junior Champions Coa on Friday evening and will know that the momentum that they have picked up in the league should stand to them. Ruairi Corrigan, Conor Murphy and Sean McManus are all playing great football and when you throw in former Fermanagh greats in Shaun Doherty and Niall Bogue then it is quite clear why a lot of neutrals are tipping Kinawley for this year’s Intermediate grade especially since they have James Allen back from a stint in America aswell.
Coa had a superb 2015 season and were actually the only Fermanagh club of three to win a game in the Ulster Club Championship. The 0-10 to 0-8 victory over Armagh side Tullysaran was a watershed moment for the O’Dwyers as it signalled a first ever victory in the Ulster Club arena.
This season in the league has not been great and with a host of injuries, holidays, players working long distance and even the odd soccer commitment then it has been a frustrating season. However, come Championship time this Coa side really do come alive and with the likes of Fermanagh captain Eoin Donnelly in the side then anything is possible. Damien Elliott and Patrick Murphy are two excellent defenders while Gary Lynch, Lee McQuade Ryan Hanna and Darren McQuade can all kick scores. A big task against Kinawley awaits.
Derrylin drop into the Intermediate grade that they last won in 2014. The 2015 SFC tilt did not go to plan as they picked up comprehensive defeats to Roslea in the Quarter Final (1-10 to 0-6) and a Relegation Semi final defeat to St Patricks Donagh (2-4 to 3-12).
Derrylin still have some classy players and quality scoretakers but they are coming up against a Maguiresbridge side that have battled hard in Division 1 this season. For Derrylin Louis Leonard is pivotal and will captain the side. Barry Murray, Cathair Shannon and Donal McAvinue will be the mainstays of the team and younger players such as Paul Lunney and Aaron McGoldrick can all be called upon to help the O’Connell’s.
Belcoo face an opening-round meeting with Lisnaskea which represents a huge game for the two clubs. Belcoo have had a poor league in 2016 and with a lacking sub bench that will be worrying manager Hugh Donnelly at the moment. Talented attacker Matthew McAloon has been ruled out for the season while experienced players such as Shane McCabe, Brian Cox and Seamus Conlan are all not playing for one reason or another. Christopher Leonard captains the side around the middle, while Jonathan Feely in attack can be clinical and Lisnaskea will have been well warned on Feeley’s talents. Ballinamallard United goalkeeper James McGrath is a top class goalkeeper while his brother Paul at centre half forward has been one of Belcoo’s best performers this season. Lisnaskea await and the loser of this clash may not find it easy to pick themselves up for a relegation clash.
Maguiresbridge face Derrylin in another 1st division v 2nd division tie and this clash will see a re-run of the 2014 IFC final in which Derrylin won. Former Fermanagh minor manager Niall Jackman is under the watchful eye of his hometown club now and will be hoping to have better success than predecessors that seen them lose two IFC Finals against Enniskillen (2013) and Derrylin (2014). League form this season has not been anything special although performances have been ok they have been playing catch up in the league and the Fermanagh Under-21 hurlers run in June/July held them back badly. Sean Corrigan and Daniel Teague are two exceptional forwards that are hard to mark, Niall Carson is playing great around the middle and Matthew Teague and Stephen Reihill are both extremely strong, powerful and can take a score, the clash with Derrylin will tell us a lot about Maguiresbridge.
Lisnaskea face Belcoo on Sunday evening and with a fine Championship tradition second division Lisnaskea will not be overawed by Division 1 side Belcoo in Tempo. Manager Peter Clarke has plenty of quality and experienced players to work with and his side did finish the league campaign well in division 2.
The likes of John Woods, Niall McElroy, Daniel Kille and Tomas Clarke are all strong and have bags of ability to win a tight contest. Add in the likes of John Rice and Sean Keenan who have had fine seasons then it is quite cleat this Lisnaskea side have the ingredients to put in a performance good enough to defeat Belcoo. An early favourite for the Intermediate title will be knocked out come Sunday evening. That pretty much shows you how close this Intermediate grade actually is.
Tempo find themselves back in the Intermediate grade and a competition that they have not won since 2002. When you also consider Tempo won the Senior Championship and Division 1 title double in 2012 it is a fall of grace that the Maguire’s will quickly want to rectify.
A dismal league campaign seen just 1 win in 18 games and now a playoff to see can they somehow stay in Division 1 for 2017 is on the horizon. Far too many of the double season winning squad in 2012 have gone or retired while Fermanagh ace Aidan Breen is currently playing his football in America for the Summer which is a gigantic loss. Players like Damien Kelly, Tiarnan Bogue, Rory McCaffrey and Conor Foy may or may not have enough about them to get over a youthful Enniskillen side but after that really is anyone’s guess.
