By Shaun Casey

THE All-Ireland series has been more like a mini-Ulster Championship so far for the Down ladies – and another provincial rival stands between them and a spot in the All-Ireland Intermediate final.

Colm Donnelly’s Down hammered Ulster Intermediate Championship winners Cavan in their first game of the campaign. They subsequently needed extra time to eventually shake off the attentions of provincial finalists Monaghan in the last day out, to book their place in the last four.

Fermanagh offer the next challenge in Sunday’s double header at St. Tiernach’s Park, Clones, while Roscommon and Westmeath clash in the other semi-final at Kingspan Breffni Park, both with the same throw -in time of 4pm.

“It’s turned into an Ulster Championship rather than an All-Ireland series for us,” said manager Donnelly.

“We’re after having a bruising game against Monaghan, it was a very physical game and we’re still trying to get girls right from it.

“It took its toll. We were back training on the Tuesday night, and we didn’t play any football at all, we just had a bit of craic and moved about. I knew Monaghan would be physical and that’s what they brought to the table.

“We had a bit of a hectic week last week because girls had holidays planned and everybody’s plans have changed. We have a few niggles and knocks but we should be alright going forward.”

Fermanagh captured the All-Ireland Junior Championship title just two years ago and have been on a steady rise ever since. They picked up a Division Three league victory over the Mourne ladies back in early March, with both sides finishing clear of the relegation zone.

Either side of their victories over Cavan and Monaghan, Down suffered their one and only All-Ireland Championship defeat to Roscommon, who topped their three-team group.

The Erne County lost to Leitrim in their first championship outing of the season but bounced back to beat Wicklow and Clare, both away from home, to reach Sunday’s semi-final.

“They beat us in the league by one point, and they were the better team on the day,” Donnelly recalled.

“The Fermanagh girls needed to get a win and they got it, so it was probably a lesson learned for us ahead of Sunday’s game.

“I still don’t know what they’re going to bring to be honest. I knew what Cavan was going to bring and I knew what Monaghan were going to bring.

“I asked their manager Barry McKenna for a challenge game in May, and he turned it down because we were in the same championship, so Fermanagh are well tuned in to this All-Ireland series.

“Fermanagh are a very good team, and they have a bit of momentum behind them at the minute. Obviously, Eimear Smyth and Joanne Doonan are playing really well so we’re going to have to find the same level of performance that we did against Cavan and Monaghan.”