For the prize is a meeting with Dublin, regarded as one of the top two teams in the country and considered one of the real hot shot contenders for the Sam Maguire come September.

Dublin have underlined their potency with a string of imperious championship displays in the Leinster campaign which has seen them brush aside all opposition.

It is Fermanagh’s turn now to attempt to halt the Metropolitan juggernaut.

It goes without saying that the Erne side will go into the Croke Park cauldron as the rankest of rank outsiders a real David v Goliath encounter.

Lambs to the slaughter?

Not if Fermanagh manager Pete McGrath can work his magic as he has done so far this summer.

“From the start of the year back in the McKenna Cup, through the National League and now into the championship we have been consistent in our approach to each and every game,” he declared, “ this one is no different.

“Of course there is no point in shying away from the fact that this game with Dublin is a major, major challenge for us but we will be very positive in our approach.

“We will work on our defensive stategy, our attacking blueprint and we will aim to use our strengths to the maximum.

“It’s all about performance, deal with that and the scoreboard can look after itself.”

 McGrath is warm in his appreciation of the qualities that this Fermanagh side possess and was keen to comment on the spirit and character of the team.

“In the games with Roscommon and Westmeath we needed those qualities. Against Roscommon we had a five point deficit with only five to six minutes remaining.

“Against Westmeath we had a difficult opening half a number of wides and then losing two key defensive players,”he continued.

“It would have been easy for a team in that situation to bury the head and say that it just wasn’t to be their day. But we refused to be knocked off course by adversity  and finished the half well.

“And in the second half, even with the loss of Eoin Donnelly which was another blow, we played exceptionally well, great energy and pace and great composure.”

It is a gigantic task however that awaits Fermanagh, the Dubs look to be an outstanding side but McGrath will ensure that his charges will be entering the fray with a very positive frame of mind.

The run through the qualifiers, three wins on the trot and the memory of a very strong challenge put up to new provincial champions Monaghan has confirmed the fact that this is a fine Fermanagh side.

“Make no mistake about it this is a serious Fermanagh team and if we can get close to playing to our full potential we will present problems for Dublin.”