By Michael McMullan

FERMANAGH manager Kieran Donnelly sees Sunday’s opponents Kildare are favourites to win the Tailteann Cup but his side relish the challenge.

It’s a second Croke Park date this season for the Erne County and Donnelly feels their group game with Wexford at Headquarters will be a help.

While their Ulster exit at the hands of Down was earth-shattering at the time, such was their position of strength, Donnelly felt their defeat to Carlow in the Tailteann Cup opener was the making of the group.

Minutes after Daniel Guinness and Ryan McEvoy’s goals created the Down ambush, Donnelly didn’t even want to think about the Tailteann Cup. “The one thing about that game, I suppose, that enabled us to bounce back pretty quickly was our level of performance that day,” Donnelly told Gaelic Life.

They knew they should have won the game but there was the realisation of the quality Down had in the tank, backed by their progress since. Pick the positives and move on was the Fermanagh vibe.

“The thing with our camp, our lads are always easy to manage and want to play for Fermanagh,” he added.

Losing to Carlow was another sobering experience. Fermanagh scored well, 2-18. Carlow had Mikey Bambrick’s 2-4 tally.

Fermanagh didn’t have the edge they brought to the Down game. Carlow were made for road. Fermanagh were found out.

“I think it was the best thing that could ever have happened to us as well, to be honest,” Donnelly said.

There was frustration. Then a look in the mirror. Fermanagh needed to make it all about Fermanagh. And bring the most basic ingredient – desire.

“The foundation of any good performance is your hard work out of possession and your high-speed running out of possession, your attitude and mentality going into it,” Donnelly said.

“If they aren’t there, then the other areas of your game won’t happen.

“Good teams do that well and do that consistently. And that day, we just weren’t on it.”

Fermanagh haven’t looked back since. Wins over Longford and Wexford stamped their passport to Saturday’s quarter-final win over Sligo. Again, they needed to look in the mirror. Sligo came with two bursts but Fermanagh had the answers.

Looking into Sunday, the fact Fermanagh’s game with Wexford was fixed for Croke Park has been a bonus. There won’t the same giddy excitement about the venue. They can get down to business.

“Especially as a young team, we were hoping to get back there,” Donnelly said of their return to HQ.

“It was excellent prep, because when you go to Croke Park, it’s a massive thing for any squad and especially, us that don’t get playing there that often.

“To have that experience, going there, will stand us.”

Outside of Declan McCusker, Ryan Lyons and the Cullen twins – Ché and Lee – it’s a Fermanagh squad littered with players in their mid-twenties. The perfect profile.

“They have given that much service to Fermanagh over the years,” Donnelly said of the experienced core.

“They’re running about like young lads at the minute, which is a testament to their effort.”

As for Sunday, Kildare are the fancied horse in Donnelly’s book. And have been from before a ball was kicked. He also points to the last four teams standing being there on merit.

“There’s no doubt they’re an excellent team,” he said of Kildare, commenting on their league form and the size across the team.

“They have a forward line that is as good as any in the country and their size then just makes it that bit harder.

“They are the teams you want to be playing, and especially in Croke Park.

“We’re looking forward to it. We know it’s going to be a tough task, but it’s a challenge our squad are definitely relishing.”