Returning to familiar ground

Championship 2004 Football Qualifiers:  Ian O'Riordan talks to Fermanagh manager Charlie Mulgrew and his Donegal counterpart, Brian McEniff, ahead of their qualifier tie on Saturday

Whatever disparities might exist in the All-Ireland qualifier series are most evident in the fourth and final round. Like in Saturday's meeting between Fermanagh and Donegal. One team apparently on the way up, the other on the way down. Elation versus deflation, where the respective mindsets couldn't be much more contrasting.

Fermanagh will arrive in Clones on the crest of their qualifier wave, which last Saturday drowned a Cork team hotly tipped to progress. Since their brave fight with Tyrone in the Ulster quarter-final they've also enjoyed the walkover against Tipperary and the sensational extra-time win over Meath.

Seconds out for round four.

"We do see this next game as a massive challenge for us," says Fermanagh manager Charlie Mulgrew, "playing such a strong team as Donegal. But we talked about it on Monday night, and we know we have just a week to improve, which is a very hard job. And I'm talking about them improving by 10 per cent if they are to grind out the result we want."

Mulgrew has developed a knack for getting the extra percentages out of his players. Since taking over as manager just seven months ago, a time when the county appeared to be in crisis, the Donegal native has been steadily improving their stock. Most of the league results didn't attract too much attention but as far back as March 14th they were showing some promise, the day they fought back to draw with Dublin at Brewster Park.

Yet when Dominic Corrigan and his highly-rated trainer Martin McElkennon walked away last season, coupled with the absence of the Gallagher brothers, it seemed Fermanagh were about to fall back into its darkest ages.

Mulgrew simply invested in some youth such as Mark Little, Eamon Maguire and James Sherry and pressed ahead with his own ambitions.

Now he comes up against his native county, with whom he played for several years, and also some players he would coached at St Eunan's.

Yet he's sees little advantage in this.

"I don't think it works that way. I mean you have RTÉ and BBC covering matches now so there are always video tapes available of the various teams, and that means there's no real advantage from knowing a team because you've worked with them."

Mulgrew will finalise his team after training this evening, with corner back Hughie Brady the only real injury concern: "In the main we've come out of the Cork game unscathed. There are a few players carrying minor knocks but we should be able to select from a full panel."

There was the question of the availability of Liam McBarron, who flew by helicopter to Kinawley after Saturday's win to be married. It was thought he'd be on honeymoon, but for now McBarron, who plays club football with Kilmacud Crokes in Dublin, is staying faithful to his county. "No he's okay," said Mulgrew.

"I'm not sure of the arrangements, but he's still at home, and will be available. But I know he's trying to keep the whole wedding thing separate."

There is slight tinge of regret Fermanagh didn't get a return ticket to Croke Park, where the wide and fast surface appeared tailor-made for their game: "Obviously every team likes to get a game in Croke Park . . . But there's nothing wrong with Clones. It just doesn't feel like we've any real time to prepare, and that feels like a disadvantage."

Yet Mulgrew could spare a thought for Brian McEniff, the Donegal manager who is trying to rise his team after losing the Ulster final to Armagh last Sunday week. McEniff has also had some overly-exposed disciplinary problems to deal with, but he's not dwelling on them.

"They are only amateur sports people," said McEniff, "and they're so young. They've paid their price . . . It's a week on, and it's dead as far as I'm concerned. We have far more important things on our mind. We're just days away from an All-Ireland qualifier, where we're playing for our lives. I'm only interested at this time in the well-being of the injured Christy Toye and Damien Diver, hoping they'll come through the next two sessions unscathed."

McEniff has worked wonders with this panel since retaking the reins two seasons ago, but he admits this is a whole new challenge: "I won't know what the mood is until Saturday evening after match. You'd just hope things are right. But scars can be left there you can't always see."

Donegal will finalise a team after training tomorrow, but Diver's hamstring injury is unlikely to be healed in time to make the starting line-up.