Conor Kelly will be a key man for the Gaels
PREVIEW: KEVIN COURTNEY CAR SALES IFC INTERMEDIATE FINAL
It’s a novel pairing in the intermediate championship decider this weekend, the finalists Enniskillen and Maguiresbridge, two clubs who have had distinctly contrasting profiles inside the county over the past decades.
Enniskillen with a swathe of senior championship triumphs plus a number of memorable campaigns in the provincial arena have been often at the pinnacle in local football. They may have slipped down the pecking order in the more recent past but they still are the Gaels and they retain a particular aura.
Maguiresbridge on the other hand have long been one of those clubs who more or less make up the numbers and their successes have been unfortunately, from their point of view, all too sporadic.
The contrast between the Gaels C V and that of the ‘Bridge is all too obvious but sport has its swings and roundabouts and in the last few seasons there has been dramatic changes in the fortunes of both clubs.
So much so in fact that if a pre match favourite had to be indicated then that label would be stitched to the ‘Bridge colours.
The teams have met twice in the league and Maguiresbridge have collected three of the four league points on offer, their win actually recorded at Brewster Park. And the ‘Bridge are a side on a rising curve.
Over the past four seasons since their re emergence from reserve grade they have being making steady, sustained progress and they have established themselves firmly as a side of solid second division status.
They come into this decider in a buoyant and quietly confident frame of mind and they have every reason to be so inclined.
As for Enniskillen, after seasons as the undisputed top dog in Erne football, they have suffered the inevitable slump that all clubs have to undergo. After all it’s a cycle when it comes to sport.
There have been signs surfacing that the Gaels have finally bottomed out and that a resurgence is beginning to peep on the horizon but they still have some distance to go and they will be all too conscious that this Maguiresbridge side is going to pose a major test for them.
Backboning the Gaels challenge will be a sprinkling of veteran players who were on board during their heyday. In defence this includes full back Paul Gunn and centre back Ryan McCluskey while in the middle of the park Neil Cox is still plying his trade.
And of late there has been the welcome return of Tom Brewster.
This quartet form the core but overall the Gaels are now looking to a younger brigade to drive their re emergence. Youthful wing half backs Patrick Reihill and Paul Coulter have brought fresh energy while in attack Brian McAleer and Conor Kelly are providing the spark.
For Maguiresbridge the lynchpins of their rearguard are full back Conor Hyde and mobile corner back Ciaran Corrigan with Sean McAvinney manning the central slot at centre back.
The return after a summer absence of Ryan Hyde to centrefield has been a massive boost while in the attack the threat posed by the Teague brothers will not be underestimated by the Gaels management.
On their passage through to the final the ‘Bridge have scored impressive wins over Coa and Aughdrumsee albeit after they had taken time to get a firm grip on those games. Their staying power in both fixtures has been admirable and they have a resolute, committed belief in themselves to come through in the end.
Enniskillen on their road through dispatched Brookeboro in their quarter final but had to take a second bite before polishing off Irvinestown.
A confident and sturdily optimistic Maguiresbridge will prove to be very testing opponents for an Enniskillen side which will have to play extremely well to deal with this challenge.
For the ‘Bridge an intermediate championship after so many years in the wilderness will be hunted down with fiery determination so the Gaels will have to step up to the plate if they are to fend off what will be a totally motivated opposition.
There won’t be a lot in this at the finish.