DERRYGONNELLY feel they’re going nowhere when it comes to Fermanagh football but in terms of their Ulster ambitions, joint-manager Mick Glynn admits this is “a big opportunity” for their elder statesmen.
While they’ve enjoyed sparkling cameos from youngsters such as Gavin and Rian McGovern and Conor Burns on this journey, the likes of Declan Cassidy, Johnny McGurn, Eamon McHugh, Ryan and Mickey Jones are players of considerable influence for the Harps.
They are all in their 30s and running out of chances to claim an historic Ulster Club title.
The Fermanagh champions face fledgling Armagh kingpins Clann Éireann on Saturday evening, with Derrygonnelly looking to cross the bridge they’ve fallen at twice in their last three attempts.
They lost an epic semi-final replay to Cavan Gaels in 2017 before narrowly falling to eventual All-Ireland finalists Kilcoo two years ago.
In terms of at least reaching a provincial final, this looks on paper like their best chance.
“We certainly feel it’s a good opportunity but we know it’ll be a very tough assignment,” says Glynn, who takes the team along with Sean Flanagan.
“We’re fortunate we have a good crop of young players in the squad as well, so we feel that we will always be competitive in Fermanagh for the next number of years.
“But we realise that some players can’t go on forever and this is a big opportunity for them, and we’ll be doing everything in our power to grasp that opportunity.
“We’ve looked at Clann Eireann. They’re a very good, well-organised team that know what they’re about.
“With their record this year and what they’ve achieved, beating all the top teams in Armagh and then Creggan, we realise that while it is a big opportunity for us, we’ll have to put in a top-notch performance.
“They’re very mobile. They all seem to know what they’re supposed to be doing. I couldn’t pick a weakness on their team. Their goalkeeper’s exceptional, they’ve been very strong up the middle and up the wings.
“Their strength is their pace and their know-how. And then they have the marquee man up front, [Conor] Turbitt. I think they’re a very well-balanced team.”
Having been fancied by very few to emerge from their first round tie with Tyrone champions Dromore, the Harps are now in the unfamiliar position of being favourites.
In six years playing Ulster Club football they’ve only ever been the bookies’ pre-match favourites once, against Armagh Harps in 2017.
“Against Dromore, the odds were certainly against us,” said Glynn.
“The fact it was Fermanagh v Tyrone, I think people that mightn’t have done research on it just presumed because it was a Tyrone team against a Fermanagh team, there was only one team would win.
“Now, we’re the favourites with the bookies this weekend, which isn’t something we’re too fond of.
“But we won’t be lacking motivation. I like to think every day we go out, we’re motivated to put in a performance.”
While TG4’s live coverage will ensured thousands of sets of eyeballs will be glued to Breffni Park on Saturday night, the narrative persists that the eventual winners will come from Sunday’s other semi-final between Glen and Kilcoo.
Whoever emerges from both games will have a long sit over Christmas until January 16, when the final will be played – not that Glynn minds.
“It’s strange to be playing football so late in the year but you’d prefer to be playing than not playing if it means you’re in with a chance.
“The changing structures of the competitions between county and club, it’s something that is going to become more prevalent, that the club scene will be in the latter half of the year.
“I think there could be scope for having it a bit earlier.”
