Derrygonnelly and Maguiresbridge find themselves in unfamiliar surroundings this Friday evening when the two sides lock horns in the Fermanagh Minor Championship Final.

At the start of this year's Championship, strong Division One sides such as Lisnaskea, Enniskillen and St Patrick's, Donagh all amazingly fell in the first round and all on the same evening giving the lower graded division two sides a huge fillip that a lower ranked side could finally capture this year's trophy.

Both these sides will readily admit that at the start of the year, a League final and one Championship win would have been widely regarded as a successful season but they both are now just 60 odd minutes away from capturing a Minor title and spearheading their club into the limelight of youth football once again in the County.

Maguiresbridge (20 years) and Derrygonnelly (10 years) were the last time these sides performed in a Minor championship final so it can be presumed both sides will have nerves as well as a huge chance of creating history.

Maguiresbridge defeated St Joseph's Ederney 4-06 to 0-08 at the Semi final stage, while the Harps were made work extremely hard and scored 2 injury time points to defeat a stubborn Erne Gaels side in their Semi final before winning 2-11 to 2-10.

Maguiresbridge may go into this game as slight favourites after defeating the Harps in the league on a scoreline of 2-09 to 0-14. But in saying that favouritism seems to do no side any good fortune at all in this year's Championship.

A tight game is in store and no quarter will be asked from either player or management team.

Lastly, word is that both sides will be missing key players due to family holidays - the mind games have started already!

Key battles David Teague (Maguiresbridge) v John Joe Moore (Derrygonnelly) This will be a great individual contest. Teague is a terrific link up man and is Maguiresbridge main scoring threat, while Moore has been Derrygonnellys top defender this season. Teague will of course need support but the big man showed against Ederney he is capable of taking his man on and scoring points with both left and right feet. John Joe Moore is hugely important to the Derrygonnelly cause and has made a habit of stopping good full forwards from influencing games, this will be interesting.

Conor Durnien (Maguiresbridge) v Garvan Jones (Derrygonnelly) A huge battle, and whoever comes out on top is likely to be the critical factor in which team leads the steps of victory on the John Vesey stand. Modern day football requires dominance at midfield in terms of supplying ball into the forwards and contributing scores. Durnien has been majestically brilliant this year for Maguiresbridge with his constant movement, terrific aerial ability and his pace for soaring forward and taking his score. Jones is a fine player who has the ability to go onto be a huge success for his club and County side, he made his debut for Fermanagh minors this season and still has another year next year at minor level. Two very level headed players and this has the makings of an intriguing battle of two powerhouses in the middle.

Patrick Gavin (Maguiresbridge) v Gary McKenna (Derrygonnelly) An interesting battle as Maguiresbridge's Gavin is the most likely man marker for his side on the pivotal McKenna. McKenna is a box office player, with bags of talent, endless running and the ability to take his score from any angle. He has been hugely effective this season and will take some stopping. Gavin has improved as a player as the season has progressed and has the ability to launch an attack from his very own back line with his pace, and we have seen him already this year racing forward to get on the scoresheet for his side. Two important players and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top.

Minor Championship Final Derrygonnelly v Maguiresbridge @ Brewster Park, Enniskillen, Friday 7.30pm