RESULTS change perspectives, but Fermanagh forward Ryan Lyons insists he was setting his sights on Division Two even before Sunday's dramatic victory over Ulster rivals Down.
That 2-14 to 3-10 win in Ederney lifted the Ernemen above the Mournemen, and with the latter hosting Westmeath this coming weekend Fermanagh could move into the top two in Division Three if they triumph in another provincial pairing, away to Antrim.
Erne Gaels clubman Lyons not only wants to go up, he's aiming to do so with a Cup: "I can't speak for everybody else, but very much my mind was on promotion, 100 per cent: back to Croke Park, get a bit of silverware, which is obviously every player's dream."
The reasons for such optimism were standing around him on the lush turf at St Joseph's Park, explained Lyons: "We were all asked our targets at the start of the year individually, and we're all well aware of the talent in the squad.
"I think even from 12 months ago the depth we have in that squad now is unbelievable. There's easily 30, 35 boys that could be starting out on the pitch there. That drives the intensity and the standards up in training each week."
The starting selection against Down illustrated the options available to manager Kieran Donnelly, with captain Declan McCusker and experienced full-forward Sean Quigley only on the bench, although the latter came on to palm in the winning goal.
Lyons pointed out that the range of panel is even greater than that: "That's the beauty of it…. There are even boys weren't in the 26 and I was thinking 'Jesus, they could be starting there today.' It's great. It's only good for the squad, for the future of Fermanagh football, because there's a lot of good young players coming through.
"A couple of boys who weren't even in the 26 two weeks ago [in Offaly] started today. That's what you want in a squad: competitive nature, drive things on."
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It was still touch and go against Down, who came back from six points behind and scored three second half goals to lead heading into added time before the hosts secured the win their overall performance merited.
The quality of Fermanagh's subs was vital, said Lyons. "We had to win it two or three times over, but luckily enough in the end we came out on the right side of the result.
"It wasn't looking good those last couple of minutes [of normal time] there, but we showed the character in the squad, and the depth of the squad as well.
"Boys we brought off the bench were unbelievable in the last five, 10 minutes; they changed the game completely for us and luckily helped us over the line in the end…
"We made five subs and every one of them had an impact on the result in the end. Fresh legs were good for us in the final 10 minutes."
Fermanagh had won their League opener in Ederney, seeing off Longford by seven points, but then slipped to a last-gasp minimum margin loss away to Offaly in round two.
Lyons revealed that the pain of that defeat had spurred them on to do better, even against previously unbeaten Down: "It was a long two weeks for us, put it that way - a lot of soul-searching done because we felt we left massively behind us in Tullamore.
"But we knew how important two points were [against Down]. If you get two points you're looking up the way, pushing on. If you lose, we're looking at the relegation fight. So, huge two points – but it means absolutely nothing without two points up in Belfast next weekend."
A win at Corrigan Park won't come easy against Antrim, with Lyons recalling a nine-point setback at home in round one last year:
"Last year they gave us a good beating in Brewster, which ended up probably costing us in the League, cost us a crack at promotion in the end. So we're well aware of what talent they have, what they have at their disposal.
"We'll prep for them, like we do for every team we play. We prefer to focus on the things we do, prep a bit more. Big 6,7 days ahead of us now, before we go to Belfast on Saturday morning, where we need two points."
