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There is a big performance in Fermanagh - McGurn
TL;DR
Fermanagh faces Armagh in the Ulster Senior Football Championship quarter-final after a heartbreaking loss to Down last year. Full-forward Darragh McGurn believes they can find inspiration from their previous performance despite being considered underdogs.
Key points
- Fermanagh lost to Down in last year's Ulster Championship quarter-final
- They led by seven points before conceding multiple goals
- Fermanagh will play Armagh in the quarter-finals this Saturday
Mentioned in this story
Darragh McGurnConor Laverty
FermanaghArmaghUlster Senior Football Championship
With eight minutes to go in last year's Ulster Senior Football Championship quarter-final, it seemed Fermanagh were on course to defy the odds against Down.
Leading by seven, it appeared the Ernesiders were set to move into a semi-final meeting with Donegal when it all unravelled.
Daniel Guinness kicked a two-pointer and then found the net for Conor Laverty's side and after a pair of frees from Pat Havern tied it up, a Ryan McEvoy goal would break Fermanagh hearts.
They go into this Saturday's quarter-final against Armagh at Brewster Park [17:30 BST] as outsiders once again and while expectations outside of the camp are not overly high, full-forward Darragh McGurn feels they can draw inspiration from last year's performance against the Mournemen.
"We should have had that game home and hosed with 10 minutes to go and didn't get over the line," the 27-year-old told BBC Sport NI.
"We know there are big performances in us and we have quality with a few players to come back, so we're ready to put in a big performance."
Last year, Fermanagh entered the championship after a league campaign that saw them narrowly miss out on promotion from Division Three.
The background is much different this time around as one win from their seven games means they will ply their trade in the fourth division next year.
Going up against 2024 All-Ireland champions Armagh this week, a side that are firmly in the top tier, ensures their season "doesn't get any easier" but McGurn feels there are some caveats.
Undoubtedly, the quality of opposition in the league was high this year, evidenced by Westmeath - a team that missed out on promotion - stunning Meath in a Leinster quarter-final last weekend.
Of course, finishing bottom of the pile is not where McGurn and his Fermanagh team-mates "expected to be" but Declan Bonner's side will dust themselves off for Saturday's shot at springing the latest surprise in this year's provincial championships.
"At the start of the year, the goal was promotion but we got off to a bad start, picked up a few defeats early and it was hard to regain momentum," he reflects.
"The quality in Division Three this year was the highest I've ever seen, no easy games at all, but it's still disappointing to be going into Division Four.
"We'll be getting players back now and are looking for a big response now going into the championship."
Q&A
What happened in Fermanagh's last Ulster Championship match against Down?
Fermanagh led by seven points with eight minutes remaining but lost after Down scored a two-pointer and a goal, ultimately breaking Fermanagh's hopes.
When and where is Fermanagh's next match against Armagh?
Fermanagh's quarter-final match against Armagh is scheduled for this Saturday at Brewster Park at 17:30 BST.
Who is Darragh McGurn and what does he believe about Fermanagh's chances?
Darragh McGurn is a full-forward for Fermanagh, and he believes the team can draw inspiration from their previous performance against Down despite being seen as underdogs.