BY DAMIAN CAMPBELL

The minor championship has now reached the semi final stage and the pairings in the 'A'competition are, Belcoo v Irvinestown and Derrygonnelly v Roslea.

The high profile game here is the former pairing which will be a repeat of the recent division one league decider, a game won surprisingly easily by Belcoo.

Irvinestown had come into that decider with an unbeaten record but they put in a substandard display and Belcoo romped to a convincing success.

This upcoming semi final promises to be a much tighter affair. Irvinestown will certainly be utterly determined to make amends for their dismal league final showing and they have steadily worked their way to the last four with solid wins over Enniskillen and Maguiresbridge.

Belcoo on the other hand will have the plum prize of league and championship double triumph to spur them on.

Two teams who have a number of quality players on board, and their semi final clash has a lot to recommend it. The second semi final inevitably is overshadowed by this glittering pairing.

Both Derrygonnelly and Roslea played their initial league campaign in the second division so they have attracted only moderate attention. Both will rate their chances of advancing to the final and for the moment at least will not be concerned as to what might lie in store in that decider.

Also on the agenda this week will be the much postponed minor division four final between Derrylin and Newtownbutler and the final of the under 14 B championship, Belnaleck and Tempo battling it out here.

Mixed report from new summer league.

The new summer competition, introduced to fill the vacuum caused by the county team's progress in the championship, has been a hit and miss affair.

Two clubs, Coa and Derrygonnelly opted out from the outset and with both of them scheduled to contest Section A, it has left this sector reduced to four, Belcoo, Kinawley, Lisnaskea and Tempo.

So far there has been, what in truth would have been anticipated, a wildly varying pattern from good contests to total mismatches. Some sides have been able to field reasonably strong selections but there have been cases where there has been only a mere skeleton lineout take the pitch.

The competition however has had enough interest shown in it and it is expected that it will run its course over the coming weeks, despite the blips. Also at adult level at the moment, the focus in the junior grades has switched to the championships.

Here there is the new departure of having no fewer than three competitions to cater for the teams playing in Erne Cup leagues and this will go a long way to ensure that there is a basically level playing surface for all concerned.