Belleek boss Declan Bonner under no illusions ahead of Kilcoo Ulster club SFC test 

Declan Bonner will look to cause what would be a seismic Ulster Club SFC upset when he leads Erne Geals, Belleek into action against Kilcoo this afternoon at the Box-It Athletic Grounds (throw-in, 4.30pm). 

If that challenge wasn’t steep enough, the Fermanagh champions are looking to cause the upset, minus some of their most influential players. 

Last Saturday, Bonner tuned in online to streamed coverage of son Cillian kicking ten American Football points as North Greenville saw off UNC Pembroke, 34-20, to lift the Conference Carolinas Championship.

The former Donegal boss and 1992 All-Ireland winner had travelled out to the States for the semi-finals - a prearranged family holiday that unfortunately clashed with the replayed Erne county decider win over Derrygonnelly. 

However, finding a small, quiet spot in Greenville, Bonner was still able to call the shots thanks to modern technology. 

“They won the Conference for the first time ever last Saturday night and Cillian’s loving it, the football and just the general experience,” Declan Bonner said

“It was a great experience to be out there with him a few weeks back, get to a game and see just how he’s getting on. And it made the trip really that we got over the line back home against Derrygonnelly. 

“I was on a laptop in a small café and I was in constant contact with the lads on the line. I was able to talk to them and I was just relieved we got the job done. 

“The ladies in the café must have thought I was mad in the head but they were brilliantly accommodating.  

“And Belleck hadn’t won a senior championship in 40 years so to go back-to-back was special. It’s been a really special few seasons there.

“They are a brilliant group and have pushed on again and winning that Kingscourt game was another huge leap. But this is a very different animal at the weekend and we are well aware just how formidable a challenge it will be”. 

Gaels overcame Cavan champions Kingscourt in the last eight, just edging matters late on to progress to the semi-finals. 

However, Bonner explains that Belleek will have to do it the hard way against the Mourne heavyweights if they are to pull off the upset. 

Boner will be without the services of Tommy McCaffrey, who is getting married in Rome on Friday, which also means brother Paul won’t be available.

Paul Ward has also recently gone travelling so that just adds some extra headaches for Bonner and the Gaels in the lead-in this week. 

“It’s unfortunate but we’re going to be down three or four because of that. Tommy McCaffrey is getting married. 

“We did look to try to put the game back 24 hours but to no avail; there was no movement on it. 

“It’s unfortunate but we will still go there and give it an absolute rattle. And let’s see where that takes us. 

“To be in the last four of the Ulster Club SFC is an unbelievable thing for the players and the supporters to be looking forward to”.