Improving Donegal have ability to edge a contest of equals

GAA:  Donegal v Fermanagh, Enniskillen, Sunday, 2.0  When the fourth-round draw was made two weeks back this appeared like another well-worn all-Ulster clash the qualifiers could have done without. On closer inspection it has the makings of one of the games of the summer - involving two old rivals with fast-paced and free-flowing styles, equally young and hungry for a place in the quarter-finals.

It's still only two years since Fermanagh defied all expectations and tore through the qualifiers, eventually making the All-Ireland semi-finals, where they narrowly lost to Mayo. Manager Charlie Mulgrew insists that's a different era now and totally behind them. Yet surely the experience, and the self belief it brought, still stands to them.

Donegal were one of Fermanagh's victims on that 2004 qualifier run, and that was just one of their six championship meetings in the last seven years. Surprisingly, Fermanagh have lost only one of those and that adds to the sense that both teams believe they can win tomorrow.

There's some extra interest too in that Mulgrew - a Donegalman - knows plenty of his opposition through his involvement with the St Eunan's club.

For Brian McIver, the Donegal manager, the Ulster final defeat to Armagh was a temporary setback. McIver has drastically redesigned Donegal's team this summer, injecting vast amounts of youth, and they were always likely to be undone by the proven sturdiness of Armagh.

Fermanagh are a different proposition though, a team Donegal won't fear in any way, not least because they are in many ways similar.

With Paddy Campbell suspended, McIver has yet to decide who will play at full back, though Eamon McGee is expected to take over, with Tommy Donoghue called into the right-wing-back position. Raymond Sweeney is another obvious option though he has not figured much under McIver.

With free-taker Michael Doherty still troubled with a knee injury there's a vacancy in the forward line as well.

Doherty is unlikely to make it, but there are alternatives there too in Adrian Sweeney and Conall Dunne - both of whom have been replaced since the Ulster final.

Colin Kelly is called into the starting line-up, with Rory Kavanagh moving out to left half forward, and Ciarán Bonner coming into full forward.

Fermanagh have lost their defender Peter Sherry to sickness, though Shane McDermott is a proven replacement, and the big tactical switch is the positioning of Tom Brewster and Mark Little in the full forward line, which will clearly test Donegal's weakened defence.

Both teams boast fast, lively forwards, but Donegal look to have an edge at midfield in Neil Gallagher and Brendan Boyle.

Fermanagh are without Liam McBarron, though Marty McGrath is definitely back to his best.

If Donegal do produce the edge there it could provide the platform for victory.

Fermanagh are always difficult to beat on their home turf of Brewster Park. They weren't overly impressive the last day against Wexford, who were without Matty Forde, and it required two well-timed goals from Eamon Maguire and Ciarán O'Reilly to see Fermanagh through.

This then is another test for McIver's young Donegal team. But assuming they'll have learnt at least something from the Ulster final defeat to Donegal, and if McIver continues to get the best out of them, they still look capable of sneaking this one on the day and setting up a quarter-final date with Cork in a week's time.

FERMANAGH: C Breen; R McCluskey, B Owens, S Goan; S McDermott, H Brady, R Johnston; M McGrath, M Murphy; E Maguire, S Doherty, C O'Reilly; A Little, T Brewster, M Little.

DONEGAL: P Durcan; N McGee, AN Other, K Lacey; E McGee, B Monaghan, B Dunnion; N Gallagher, B Boyle; C Toye, M Hegarty, R Kavanagh; Colin Kelly, C Bonner, AN Other.