Sean Quigley and Fermanagh might have put a dent in Down’s promotion prospects last weekend, but it is too soon to consider the Ernemen as Division Three contenders says manager Kieran Donnelly.
Quigley’s last-gasp goal gave Fermanagh a remarkable 2-14 to 3-10 win over the Mournemen at Ederney last Sunday as the home side secured their second win of the campaign.
Cavan are the only side with a 100 per cent record while Westmeath, Fermanagh, Down and Offaly have four points after three games.
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A win over Antrim at Corrigan Park on Saturday (2pm) would all but ensure Fermanagh’s Division Three status and would set them up for a tilt at a top-two finish heading into the final three games.
Yet, Donnelly stressed that his side are solely focused on this weekend’s Ulster derby against the Saffrons.
“The way the League has gone, and it was the same last year, you can’t look past the next game,” said Donnelly.
“It might be an old cliché, but we were happy with our last performance and the result. We now have to switch our attention to the next game.
“There’s swings and roundabouts in every game. When we get over Saturday’s game, we’ve one more game before another break - then we’ll assess where we are at and where we go from there.
“We’re not in the position to think about anything more than that and we have to be focused on what we do and look to the next challenge, which is a massive one.”
Donnelly was at Corrigan Park to watch Antrim’s first round defeat to Offaly, but Andy McEntee’s men gained a much-needed eight-point win over Tipperary in Thurles last weekend.
Antrim were desperately unlucky to lose out to Down in round two when they let a five-point lead slip and Donnelly feels Saturday’s game will be just as close as last weekend’s thriller in Ederney.
“That was an excellent win over Antrim as Tipperary is never an easy place to go - several teams have come unstuck there in the past,” said Donnelly.
“They are in a good place after last weekend so I think both teams are coming into this game with a bounce.
“Antrim were very unlucky against Down and there’s going to be very little between the teams on Saturday and it should lead to an exciting game.”
On the subject of exciting games, Donnelly revealed that he tried to enjoy last Sunday’s epic win over Down as much as possible as Quigley’s palmed goal in stoppage time gave the Ernemen a one-point victory.
“It was a fast, expansive game and it was probably exciting to watch for everyone bar ourselves,” added the Fermanagh boss.
“The way the game materialised, Down came at us when they got their first goal, but we felt we weathered the storm.
“We got back on top and we felt we had to win the game about three times. Down had great pace and energy and put us to the pin of our collar throughout.
“It was a great game of football and we were delighted to come out on the right side of it.
“You try and enjoy it as best you can at the time, but you can only reflect back on it once it is over.”
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