John Reihill is aiming to lead Lisnaskea to back-to-back championship titles when his team face Irvinestown in familiar surroundings on Saturday.

The former Enniskillen Gaels player and manager suffered the drop in his first year in charge over the Emmetts but they stormed to the Junior Championship title this time last year and are unbeaten in this year’s Intermediate competition.

“This year we have made steady progress,” Reihill said looking ahead to the weekend.

“The league was successful in that we lost to a number of teams but three of them were above us in Irvinestown Teemore and Tempo.

"We played those teams in a one-week period and it really meant we would not get promotion but we could have won those games they were all close. Had we beaten Irvinestown we would probably have been promoted.

"So it was a success in that we now knew we were as good as any team but it was about maturing and learning to get across the line in these games. Knowing this we were hopeful that we would improve and that would be enough to get us where we are now.”

The Emmetts boss was confident in his side’s ability to turn things around two years ago: “Going down helped us have a successful year.

"It was a young team overall and a lot of them had not had success at underage but we could see the quality and the potential there.

"We are also a small squad, so we needed luck with injuries and have had to manage a few players in training and game time. You cannot underestimate the importance of success which then brings a winning mentality.

"It gives the players the appetite for more and overall, I think that’s the biggest change in the team.”

The appointment of coach Johnny Feeley has been a big positive for Lisnaskea after coming into the side midway through last season.

“Johnny Feeley has played a massive part in the success,” added Reihill.

“I feel that the coach gets to work closely with the players he’s the voice that they hear and follow the most.

"Enniskillen Gaels, when I played, had a coach and manager, people like Fabien Burns and my brother James who coached us and played huge roles in bringing Senior championships to the club.

"Johnny has a huge appetite for the game and is ferocious in his energy to win. He has been thoroughly professional in his work and the players know and feel that and it rubs off on them.

"There are three of us in the management group, Ryan Meehan being the third and basically, we all work well together and so far it’s bringing success but we will only count it successful if we win the final.”

Lisnaskea and Irvinestown met in the opening round of championship games with things ending all square at St Molaises Park.

Looking back at the result, Reihill feels it may have been a springboard for success against a team who would have been plenty's pick for the championship having sealed promotion back to Division One.

“You feel it was a boost,” Reihill continued. “They are a very good young team and had just won promotion. After the game, we had mixed feelings, but we took the positives and knew we would need to improve to progress from the group stage and we did. 

"We know we need to improve further against the favourites Irvinestown. They have been the strongest team overall this year winning promotion and winning championship games comfortably beating two first-division teams along the way.

"However, we feel we are in a good place and hope we have enough to test Irvinestown and from the leagues, we don’t feel there be much in it either way.”