Football

Fermanagh SFC: Plenty still to play for in final round of group games

Derrygonnelly face a straight shoot-out with Erne Gaels for top spot in Group A while Enniskillen Gaels have already claimed top spot in Group B
Derrygonnelly face a straight shoot-out with Erne Gaels for top spot in Group A while Enniskillen Gaels have already claimed top spot in Group B

The final round of group games in the Mannok Fermanagh SFC will take place on Sunday and there is still plenty to be decided ahead of the knockout stages. 

In Group A, there will be a straight shoot out between Derrygonnelly and Erne Gaels in Garrison to decide who tops the table and progresses directly into the semi-final and who will finish second and have home advantage in a quarter-final. 

The two sides have shown good form to date in the competition, with both having won two out of two. 

Both sides have managed to rack up good scores in their two games with Garvan Jones a central figure in attack for the Harps, while Ultan Kelm has been hugely influential for Belleek in their championship campaign after a successful summer in the States. 

While it is not do or die, both sides will be keen to avoid a quarter final and have an extra week’s rest which should lead to it being a very competitive affair with a tight battle expected. 

It is do or die though in the other game in Group A as Belnaleck take on Roslea in Donagh. With the sides having lost their two group games to date, this game has a lot riding on it.

The winner will progress to an away quarter-final, while for the loser their Senior Championship aspirations will be over, and they will also have the added worry of a relegation play-off to contest. 

Belnaleck have been without key men Garrett Cavanagh and Darragh McGurn in the competition and they have struggled in their absence, shipping two heavy defeats. 

Roslea  also ended up losing their two games but they were competitive for three quarters of both games before fading in the latter stages. This has the makings of a tense encounter and there should be little between the sides at the finish. 

In Group B, Enniskillen have already secured top spot with a game to go but the other three placings in the group are still to be decided. 

Kinawley will take on Ederney in Tempo with a home quarter final spot the prize for the winner. Ederney currently sit in second place, a point ahead of Kinawley so a draw would be enough to finish as runners up.  

However, the loser will be anxiously waiting on the result from Derrygonnelly where Devenish take on Enniskillen. 

An Enniskillen win would mean that Ederney and Kinawley take the two spots for the quarter finals but if Devenish win then they will claim third place. Even a draw might do the Garrison men if Ederney beat Kinawley so it is all to play for in that group. 

Fixtures

Sunday (3.30pm): 

Belnaleck v Roslea

Derrygonnelly v Erne Gaels

Enniskillen Gaels v Devenish

Kinawley v Ederney