Derrylin’s Danny Leonard says his team are enjoying preparation ahead of this year’s Intermediate Final against Teemore.

Derrylin finished seventh in Division One this year, picking up some impressive results, and Leonard believes their league form has given them the platform for their Championship run.

Good stead

“It’s definitely put us in good stead you’re playing against good quality opposition and the fact we stayed up and retained Division One helped our confidence going into the championship, getting a few wins and just building confidence overall.

“There were some tough games and tough defeats and that, so it definitely set us up well.”

Teemore came out on top when the sides met in the group stages after a close first half eventually led to the home side running away with the contest.

Captain Leonard says Derrylin must use the loss to their advantage, adding: “We have to take huge learnings from it, Teemore rightly go into this game as big favourites.

“They are a good side and we took a right beating down in Teemore so we have to learn from it but we are going to have to be very good to match their intensity.

“They are very physical and have a lot of good forwards, they have been putting up high scores in the championship so we have to be ready for them.”

Sean Donnelly’s side will have the chance to play Senior Championship football if they are to win in Brewster Park on Saturday.

It’s a competition that Derrylin are not hugely familiar with having taken huge strides since playing in the Junior Championship only a handful of years ago.

Derrylin’s Leonard has played a key role in the St Ninnidh’s rise and the prospect of what potentially lies ahead excites the defender.

‘Excited’

Leonard said: “We’re excited to be in a final and are looking forward to it. You know we don’t get to too many finals so you have to take them when they come.

“I can only remember us playing Senior Championship once so we’re not really at that top table of Fermanagh football but we’re looking to change that but Teemore will definitely be having other ideas.

“To play senior championship is where we’d all like to be, you want to be playing at the highest level, I can see that the boys have the potential to be playing at that level of the championship.

“It’s not going to be easy with Teemore being favourites so we will have to dig deep and give a good performance and a good account of ourselves but Senior Championship is where you want to be playing.”

Whatever Saturday’s outcome Derrylin’s progress is clear to see for the neutral with a number of young players coming through the ranks and making their mark in Fermanagh and Leonard thinks his teammates can continue to punch above their weight.

“I think with the players we have, the likes of Conaill Boyle, Luke Flanagan, Jake Smith, Cathair Leonard, them boys have loads of potential.

“Hopefully, they can keep pushing on and progressing because we’ve come from playing Junior Championship not that long ago so we’re definitely progressing the right way but you know hopefully next Saturday can be another progression but Teemore will be very tough.”