Injury-ravaged Erne Gaels will almost have a full deck to pick from as they lock horns with Ederney in the Fermanagh SFC in Belleek on Sunday.

The club have been in and lost the last two county titles on the trot to Enniskillen Gaels and Derrygonnelly.

And it was against that background that they took the bold step in recruiting ex-Donegal boss and ex-player Paul Brennan to give them something extra this year.

Also, there is a sense that they will never have a better chance of taking the New York Gold Cup back to Belleek for the first time since 1981. 

Belleek have been badly hit with injuries all seasons with eight regulars out of action at one stage, but team boss Bonner is happy to report an almost clean bill of health ahead of Sunday’s must-win clash.

There had been doubts about Jack McCann, Shane Rooney and Tommy McCaffrey, but Bonner said the only player who is doubtful is dual star Odhran Johnston.

And they will have the considerable presence of Ultan Kelm who is back from a trial in Australia.

“Thankfully all those lads are back training, and everyone is in good form, and we are looking forward to the Ederney game which is at home.

“They have trained well all year, and the only doubt is Odhran Johnston and we are hoping he will be fit for the later games.”

Erne Gaels had a good tussle with Ederney and came out on top earlier in the League, but Bonner is expecting a huge battle with Sean Donnelly’s men.

“They are a strong team and it’s a championship match and they will probably have county star Sean Cassidy back in action and they have other quality players like Paul and Declan McCusker, Shay Deazley and keeper Chris Snow.

“They have a lot of good players and there won’t be much in it but we are really happy to have a full squad to pick from and Ultan Kelm is of course a huge player for us.”

Bonner added: “It is good to have the lads back on the pitch and hopefully keep them on the pitch and that is the challenge for us now, but the lads have shown great commitment all year."

And while Bonner is aware of the Belleek club’s ambitions, he is firmly focused on Ederney.

“Look this is championship and what all the training is for and we will be looking no further than Ederney. That has been our sole focus.

“It is a very compact championship and both groups are very competitive and if you are not at it on any given day you will get beaten.

“That is the challenge, and each team has three games in fairly quick succession.

“It is what we have been building towards all year and we can’t wait to get into action.”

This could be a very tight tussle and predicting a winner but if Erne Gaels forwards like Ultan and Aogan Kelm, Ryan Lyons, Shane Rooney and Tommy McCaffrey click the Gaels could prevail.