Fermanagh manager Rory Gallagher feels that the lure of playing in the first ever Super 8s has helped Fermanagh put their Ulster final defeat behind them and refocus on this weekend’s big clash with Kildare in Navan with the winner securing their place in the Super 8s.
With so much invested in trying to win a maiden provincial title, there was massive disappointment when this was not achieved but Gallagher stresses that they have now moved on from that.
“Obviously there is natural disappointment but then thankfully there has been a bit of time for that ease. From Thursday night when we were back on the pitch, it was about moving forward. 
“We didn’t perform to the level that we would like in the final and that was disappointing given the significance of the game but it is very much a new phase of the season now and we move on.
“We have had a good weekend’s training and now there is a clarity in the opponent we can look ahead. There is a huge prize available, it’s new territory in the GAA with the attractiveness of the Super 8s, and that’s a big thing too to focus the minds knowing if you could win one game what you would be in to.”
It can often be tough for a beaten provincial finalist to recover in the Qualifiers but Gallagher has been happy with the attitude of the players.
“All we can do is really prepare well, the boys attitude has been really good. Yes, we are really disappointed with what happened in the Ulster final but we have parked it now. We said we have done a lot of good this year and we have to try and bring more of that good out now.”
The Fermanagh boss knows though that they are going to have to produce an improved display from the one they gave against Donegal.
“We have to deliver a performance that is more in line with what we produced against Monaghan and Armagh than it was with Donegal to give ourselves a chance of getting over the line,” he insisted.
Kildare have gained big momentum through the backdoor system and will have taken big confidence from their win over Mayo in Newbridge last weekend. Gallagher though was not surprised with that result.
“Going into the game I would have felt they had a very good chance. They are on an upward trajectory, they have been able to build momentum after being beaten by Carlow. They went to Derry and Longford and ground out wins. 
“They played really well against Mayo and it is what’s great about the Qualifiers. I thought they fed of the atmosphere but they showed a lot of quality as well,” he added.
A game against a side outside of Ulster is also something that Fermanagh can look forward to.
“We played Derry and Armagh in the league and then Armagh in the league final. We obviously had Armagh, Monaghan and Donegal in the championship so it is just something a wee bit different and something that we haven’t maybe come across but it will be the same for Kildare,” he said.
In terms of team selection, Gallagher, who reports a clean bill of health from the final, says it will come down as always to who is performing well in training.
“We look at training and who is training best and who fits the opposition that we are playing against. Obviously, it went some boys way the last day and it didn’t go others way. The boys have trained really well since so we’ll see what happens there.”
He believes though that Saturday’s game is one to relish and he hopes the Fermanagh support will get behind the team as they did in the Ulster final.
“I think it is something to really look forward to. Navan is a fantastic venue and the weather is given good. 
“We had a huge Fermanagh following at the final and I’m sure that they will be there again to support the team. 
“To me it is a really exciting game and now we have to go out and produce the goods,” he said.