An Intermediate Championship title last year, a Division One final appearance at the end of September and now a Senior Championship final to look forward to this Sunday – things are certainly moving in the right direction for Enniskillen Gaels and Manager John Reihill.

Reihill has been involved with a large chunk of the squad for a number of years, having taken them at youth level and moved up to Senior along with them, and he feels that they are maybe ahead of schedule.

“It is the same group of boys who have come through U-16 and Minor football, and they are coming through together, the majority of them.

“We are probably in the Senior final before we thought we would be.

“This is our first year back in Senior football and you don’t know how it will go – but the potential is there. We are delighted to be there, and I think the boys deserve it because of the effort they have put in, and I think they will give it their all and then we’ll see what happens,” said the Gaels boss.

In that Division One final, Enniskillen also faced Derrygonnelly and the Harps proved too strong on the day. Reihill feels it was a steep learning curve for his side: “I think it was, and sometimes you learn more by losing or getting things wrong.

“We know that Derrygonnelly are a more experienced team; they have been there and they won five in a row.

“Yes, they have plenty of young lads, but there is a core of lads who have that experience and it certainly showed up that day.

“They looked more organised, they had a lot of leaders on the team, and we looked a wee bit passive on the day but hopefully both the management team and the players learn from it.

“It opened their eyes a wee bit,” he admitted.

That learning continued into the Championship with Enniskillen coming through two tough games against Tempo and Belnaleck to secure their place in the final.

“I think for a young team we stood up well physically, because I felt Tempo brought a physicality to that game, and rightly so from their point of view, and you learn from those experiences and it took everything to beat them.

“In the Belnaleck game, I think the experience we took out of the Tempo game, and especially the fact it was a physical game, that set the mental side of our team up for Belnaleck knowing that every game in the championship is going to be tough physically and faster and in fairness the boys have improved.

“Certainly the second half against Belnaleck was impressive from a possession point of view. I felt we controlled it a bit more and that is good for a young team.”

It would be fair to say though that Enniskillen have come through the easier side of the draw, and Derrygonnelly, having required replays to beat both Ederney and Kinawley, have four tough games under their belts.

“We would have gone through the so-called ‘easier’ side, but it wasn’t easy for us – they were two tough games,” said Reihill.

“Whether the advantage is with Derrygonnelly because they have had four games, and games against two teams who were up there looking to win championships – in Ederney and Kinawley – it is hard to know.

“I think the fact that they have a break since the semi-final will help them and we certainly know that Derrygonnelly are hot favourites.

“They are the team to beat over the last five or six years in Fermanagh, and it is still the case.

“They are particularly hungry, having lost last year, and they will want to get the title back – but we are hungry too,” he said.

Derrygonnelly have made fast starts to all their games so far and the Gaels Manager wants his side to make an impression early on.

“I think it is one of the strengths of Derrygonnelly in that they go hard at the start, get a lead and then control a game and that happened against ourselves in the league final.

“Obviously, you do your best to get off to a good start,” he added.

And he will be looking for his side to get their hands on a fair share of possession around the middle of the park: “In the first half of the league final they controlled the pace of the game and they have big, experienced men in that sector in the likes of Stephen McGullion and the three Jones: Ryan, Conal and Garvan.

“Those are big men, and they dominated possession and we know that we need to get more of the ball this time around and play at our pace at times.”

So, what will it take for Enniskillen to land their first New York Cup in 15 years?

“We have to be at our best and maybe even Derrygonnelly a bit off theirs, but definitely we are going to have to be at our best if we are to beat them.

“I feel we are capable of it but it is about producing it on the day,” he said.

The management group have talked a wee bit about that and the answer is I don't know. In one sense it will all be about on the day. We would have gone through the so called easier side but it wasn't easy for us, they were two tough games. Whether the advantage is with Derrygonnelly because they have had four games and games against two teams who were up there looking to win championships in Ederney and Kinawley it is hard to know. I think the fact that they have a break since the semi-final will help them but we certainly know that Derrygonnelly are hot favourites. They are the team to beat over the last five or six years in Fermanagh and it is still the case. They are particularly hungry having lost last year and they will want to get the title back but we are hungry too.

I think it is one of the strengths of Derrygonnelly in that they go hard at the start, get a lead and then control a game and that happened against ourselves in the league final. Obviously, you do your best to get off to a good start and at the end of the day it is up to the players on the field.

In the first half of the league final they controlled the pace of the game and they have big, experienced men in that sector in the likes of Stephen McGullion and the three Jones - Ryan, Conal and Gravan. Those are big men and they dominated possession and we know that we need to get more of the ball this time around and play at our pace at times. We want to put them under more pressure than we did in the league final and a lot of that is getting possession. Derrygonnelly are well coached in that if the big man is not winning the ball they have plenty of men around the breaking ball so we have to compete more in those situations.

We have to be at our best and maybe even Derrygonnelly but definitely we are going to have to be at our best if we are to beat them and that means being hungry for it. I feel we are capable of it but it is about producing it on the day.