Kevin Courtney Car Sales Fermanagh IFC Final
Saturday September 24th
Brewster Park @ 7.30pm
Tempo v Kinawley
Ref – Niall Cullen (Erne Gaels)
So this Saturday evening Tempo or Kinawley will be crowned Fermanagh Intermediate champions in Brewster Park, barring a draw.
Tempo have thus far played three games, two with Enniskillen which seen a draw in the first game before a tight 0-13 to 0-10 victory before a semi final win was secured against Maguiresbridge with Sean Breen’s side scoring the last 4 points of the game to win 2-10 to 2-8.
Kinawley come into the game as 4/6 bookmaker favourites with wins over Division 2 opponents in Coa and Lisnaskea. The Kinawley side got over Coa 2-10 to 0-6 with the O’Dwyers hugely hampered without key midfielder Eoin Donnelly and in the Semi final Kinawley put in a stirring second half performance to defeat Peter Clarke’s Lisnaskea, 2-10 to 2-9.
The opening exchanges in this game should be vital, both sides will have prepared well and will be looking at their opposition and planning a strategy on how to win the game.
For the favourites Kinawley, captain and talisman Ruairi Corrigan has kicked 0-4 in 2 games and has assisted in plenty more scores. Sean McManus and Ciaran Breen have also impressed this season with constant running from both. Sean McManus is top scorer for Mark Monaghans side with 0-8 and the likes of Shea Keenan and Aaron O’Reilly are two lightning fast forwards who know how to take scores when needed.
Tempo have Damien Kelly and Niall McCusker in high scoring form with 0-7 and 2-0 respectively. The return of Aidan Breen from America for the replay against Enniskillen was a great tonic boost for the Tempo side and with players such as Charlie Kelly, Rory McCaffrey and the experienced Declan Campbell then Tempo have a great blend of power and strength in defence.
The Intermediate Championship has always been very hard to call in Fermanagh club football, Tempo and Kinawley will operate in next seasons Senior Championship but to become Intermediate champions on Saturday night will be the only thing on both sides minds presently.
Both sides have the players capable of winning, Tempo still have a strong blend of players from the 2012 SFC winning side, while Kinawley have experienced players with Fermanagh time and laced with a younger generation of players that are making their mark for the team.
A close game awaits and all at Fermanagh GAA wish both sides the best of luck.
The game will be preceded by the Under-16 B Championship Final between Maguiresbridge and Irvinestown.
