Kinawley and Derrygonnelly will once again meet for honours this Saturday when they clash in Brewster Park in the Ladies Senior Football Championship final.

The sides have become big rivals in recent years with a number of well contested deciders having taken place between the two but it is Kinawley who still hold the upperhand as they look to make it six in a row of championship titles.

Last year’s decider was a very close affair with the Brian Borus just edging it, one week after the Harps had landed their first ever Division One title with victory over Kinawley.

Kinawley though will go into this year’s decider having regained the league crown and they will now be aiming to make it a league and championship double.

However, manager Mark Cunningham knows that his side face a big test on Saturday and doesn’t buy into his side being favourites to retain the title.

“We are aware of the challenge Derrygonnelly will present and they are familiar opposition. I don’t think there’s any favourite for Saturday’s game, both teams are well matched and last year’s championship final was a brilliant game,” he said.

And it is all about improving for Cunningham as he looks to build on that recent league final success although he knows that championship is a different ball game.

“We’re just focused on being better than we were last week in the league final. This is a brand new game, different setting, different scenarios, a championship final puts a different spin on the whole thing and asks questions of everyone’s ability to perform on the day,” he added.

Derrygonnelly manager Garry Smyth knows that his squad face a massive task in breaking Kinawley’s stranglehold on the championship crown but he adds that they are looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead.

“We face a big challenge on Saturday when you consider Kinawley’s dominance of this competition over recent years and with that track record comes experience.

“They are a team littered with inter county players and have a strong squad. The recent league final showing gave an indication of their strength.

“Having said that we have a committed group who have been applying themselves well at training and are looking forward to the game,” he commented.

On a wider note, Smyth says that the current team have helped build a great interest in ladies football in Derrygonnelly and he feels that will be beneficial for them in the future.

“There is a great interest in ladies and girls football in the club right down to the underage groups and the present senior team have played their part in generating that which can only be a positive in the longer term,” he said.