Experienced Fermanagh defender Ryan McCluskey says that Fermanagh are going to have to show a clear improvement from their last meeting with Armagh if they are to come away from Croke Park on Saturday night as Division Three champions.

On that occasion Fermanagh required a late rally as they rattled over the final five points to grab a draw at the Athletic Grounds back in February, but according to McCluskey Fermanagh were fortunate to come out with anything from that game.

“I don’t think it was a game that we performed well in,” he said. “I think they were the best side we faced in the league and to be honest, although we finished the game strongly, we were very lucky in that they missed a lot of chances and could have been out of sight that night. I think this Saturday’s game will be a good yardstick to show us how far we have come from that first game against them.” The Enniskillen Gaels man stresses that Armagh will enter the game as hot favourites, highlighting the Orchard County’s championship run last season, and states that Fermanagh are going to have to be at their best on Saturday night if they are to have a chance of claiming the title.

“We are coming up against a side who last year were sitting in an All Ireland quarter-final and were only beaten by a point by Donegal and I know they could have won the game that day as well. When you look then at how Donegal progressed through to the final, it is clear that Armagh are a side who are progressing well. We know that we are still a work in progress and we’re going to have to be at our best. We’ll have to play as well as we have done this year to get a result,” he added.

Despite all this though, McCluskey, who is looking forward to another outing at Croke Park, is targeting victory on Saturday night in what he expects will be a championship paced game. The defender has served Fermanagh with distinction for 14 years but has no medals to show for his endeavours with finals proving an unhappy hunting ground as he has tasted defeat in an Ulster final as well as two league deciders. And he feels that a win would be a big boost for players and supporters alike.

“It’s great to get back into Croke Park, especially in the latter stages of my career, but that is not something I’ll be thinking about at the weekend. If I am selected and given a jersey it will be about going out and trying to play my part and try and get that success. It would be a great boost for not only the players but the fans as well if we win because there is a lack of medals and success in the county and it’s not everyday you have the chance to play in a national final with silverware up for grabs. There is no doubt, as a player, these are the games you want to be playing in. It is going to be a tough, hard hitting championship paced type of game and it is something we’re looking forward to and we are aiming to try and come out on the winning side of it, like Armagh will too.” The game also provides Fermanagh with a real competitive test in the run in to the championship meeting with Antrim on May 31.

“The way the fixtures are in the GAA it’s nice to have this game three or four weeks away from the championship because you can go seven or eight weeks without a competitive game before the first round of the championship. So, it’s a good opportunity for us to pit ourselves against one of the better sides in Ulster leading up to the championship. In saying that though, all we are focusing on at the minute is Saturday’s game. It is a league final against Armagh so it will be a big occasion and one that we hope to do well in.”