By Mark McGoldrick

JUST one game now separates Fermanagh from an All-Ireland final place and Erne manager Barry McKenna believes his side has earned the right to embrace the biggest occasion of their season.

The Erne ladies face Down in Sunday’s TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Championship semi-final in Clones knowing victory would cap months of hard work and book their place in Croke Park

While McKenna acknowledges his side will start as underdogs against a talented Mourne outfit, he says there is a belief within the camp after a championship campaign that has continually defied expectations.

“That’s why we all get involved in football – to try and play in games like the one we’re going to be in on Sunday,” said McKenna.

“There’s a good atmosphere around the camp, the girls have been training really well and everything seems to be gearing the right way.

“The preparations have gone in and it’ll be all down to the players on Sunday.”

Fermanagh have built plenty of momentum throughout the championship, with each victory strengthening belief within the squad.

Sunday’s showdown represents another opportunity for a panel that has invested countless hours since McKenna and his management team took charge.

While confidence is high, there is no disguising the size of the task awaiting them.

Down arrive with an abundance of quality throughout their squad and boast several players capable of deciding the game on their own.

McKenna was quick to highlight the threat posed by the Mourne women, singling out some of their standout performers.

“There’s no bad team that gets to an All-Ireland semi-final,” he said.

“Down are a very good side with some great players. Laoise Duffy, Eimear Fitzpatrick and Megan Doherty – those three girls would make the majority of teams in Ireland. They’re top-class players.

“We know it’s a huge challenge and a huge ask and we’ll be going in as underdogs, but we’ve been like that for all games this year and it makes no real difference to us.”

Being written off has become something Fermanagh have grown accustomed to during this championship and McKenna believes that mindset has helped his players perform with freedom.

Rather than fearing the occasion, the manager insists these are exactly the matches everyone wants to be involved in.

“These are the sort of challenges that you’d rather be playing in than watching anyway,” he added.

Regardless of what happens on Sunday, McKenna believes the squad has already earned enormous credit for the commitment it has shown throughout the year.

Since taking over, the management team has overseen more than 80 collective training sessions and matches, with the players buying fully into the standards that have been demanded.

“From the day and hour we’ve taken over, we’ve had over 80 different sessions including matches and training, and the girls have put in a huge amount of work,” he said.

“It would be brilliant to get to the final. We want to make sure the changing room gets to an All-Ireland final and, please God, we will.”