Fermanagh manager, Pete McGrath, is looking forward to taking his side into the lions den on Saturday night.
Making the short trip to Breffni Park the Erne side will, in the shape of Cavan, be taking on one of the ‘in form teams in the country’ according to McGrath.
“I have told the players that it will be a real cauldron on Saturday night. Cavan will be coming to put us to the sword and we have to be ready for that and we have to be up for the battle. We have to learn to live and to function in that sort of an environment and there is no doubt that Saturday night represents a real litmus test.”
The Down man believes that the team will know exactly where they are come the final whistle in Breffni Park. Since their McKenna Fermanagh have played friendlies against Ballinderry and Louth and McGrath reports that they were ‘good exercises’ as he hones in on what is his best starting 15 for the trip to Cavan town;
“I think every county in Ireland at this stage is trying to find its best team. That is not to say that this is set in stone and as the season goes on other players will come in to form and that best 15 will change but I think every county will be wanting to put out the team that gives them the best chance of victory this weekend.”
For Fermanagh and McGrath it has been a case of sweet and sour this week with respect to news on the player front. Seamus Quigley has been ruled out of Saturday’s game and the big full forward is likely to also miss the Sligo match due to a small tear he has in his hamstring.
That represents a huge blow to Fermanagh but on a brighter note Ryan McCluskey played in both recent friendlies and according to McGrath was operating very well.
Ryan Jones is also back with exams ruling him out of the last two McKenna Cup games. Che and Lee Cullen are also available for selection while Belcoo’s Brian Cox has returned to full training although is unlikely to be risked this Saturday night against Cavan.
Fermanagh have been putting in some serious work and McGrath was keen to stress that the players understand that they have a little catching up to do in terms of fitness when it comes to the teams that they will be playing.
“We have been working them very hard and training has been very tough. But the players know they need to get fitter and they have all been doing the work. I also feel that the gelling and cohesion that is needed with any team is coming along and is certainly becoming more apparent to me.”
McGrath has certainly be learning quickly on the job and he is looking forward to another step up in class on Saturday night;
“With each training session and with each game things become a little clearer and it is a case now of pushing on down that road with the players and making sure we keep improving. Saturday presents us with a stern challenge but we are not travelling there with any inferiority complex. We know how good Cavan are but playing good teams is what county football is all about.”