Pete McGrath is confident that Fermanagh will be able to take their second half performance against Down into this Sunday’s clash with Galway at Brewster Park.

Fermanagh got their league programme off to a flying start in Newry last Saturday night as they defeated Down by nine points although McGrath is expecting a tougher test this weekend when the Tribesmen come to Enniskillen.

“It’s probably fair to say that the game on Sunday against Galway will be more of a challenge in many ways than the game against Down. Down had four or five debutants and obviously Down football has had a rough time recently but in saying that, we played very well, particularly early on in the game and in the second half.

“We know though that Galway will be more difficult, they will be more physical and they have more experienced players but if we can take that desire and hunger that we displayed on Saturday night into the game on Sunday, and I’m sure we will do that, I feel very confident that we have a massive chance of winning the game,” said McGrath.

Galway opened their league campaign with a draw against Cork and McGrath believes that Kevin Walsh’s men are one of a number of sides who will be in the shake up for promotion at the end of the league. The Fermanagh manager is though keen for his side to make the most of home advantage with this one of three home games in the league this season.

“If you look at the make up of the division, you could pick five or six teams who would be legitimate promotion candidates and Galway are one of them. So when you have a home match against one of those teams that will be pushing hard for promotion then you simply have to win that game and maximise home advantage as we have done in recent years,” he added.

And he feels that Sunday is going to be a tough, physical encounter, much as it was last year in Tuam when the sides played out a draw.

“To go back to last season’s game in Galway which ended in a draw, that game was hard fought and physical so on Sunday it could be a dour enough struggle in terms of physicality. We have to set that agenda and dictate that and as well as that we need to impose our style of football and do the things we want to do. It will be tough, it will be energy sapping but I said many times in the past that these are the games we want to be involved in. Sunday is another chance to show people that we can deal with difficult situations and we can beat accomplished teams, as Galway are,” he added.

A strong second half performance saw Fermanagh ease to the points against McGrath’s home county in Pairc Esler last Saturday night. Fermanagh had made a bright start to the game as they raced into a three point lead but Down responded to nudge a point in front before Fermanagh kicked the last two scores of the half to go in with a one point advantage at the interval. A storming start to the second half saw the Ernemen put daylight between the sides and although Down hit back with three points is row, Eoin McManus’ goal killed off the home side’s challenge as Fermanagh cruised to the win.

“The points after half time were critical. I think in the first three or four minutes we scored three points to put us four ahead and Eoin McManus’ goal put severe daylight between us and them. In the second half the team defended well, they exerted great levels of energy, picked off some great scores, worked very hard and those are the nuts and bolts of any great performance, and we got all that,” he commented.

McGrath says that at half time he had to reinforce what was said before the game.

“At half time all I had to do was remind them of what we had said that as a group what we were going to do which was to perform to a high level, play with high intensity and be resilient. The players left the changing room and I knew from their body language, and what they had said at half time, that they were going to deliver.”

The Fermanagh manager also admits that he is pleased to have this game behind him now.

“Any manager going in against his native county, and I think in my case I managed Down for so long at all levels, it is a bit strange although funny enough on the night I felt relaxed. Then the way the game panned out, particularly in the second half when we were in control of the game to an extent, I could stand back and enjoy the game” he said.

Another thing pleasing McGrath is the apparent squad depth he has available to him. On Saturday night Cian McManus and Eoin McManus both came in and performed well while those called on from the bench also impressed.

“We would be happy in the sense that there is serious competition for places and when you get the likes of Ryan Jones and Ruairi Corrigan back you would like to think that further down the road when you look at your panel you will really be in a place where you have a very strong starting 15 and got a very strong bench to come in. As we all know, the way the game is played now, it is generally an 18, 19, 20 man game so strength in depth is critical,” he said.