Fermanagh ladies go in search of an Ulster title on Sunday when they clash with Derry in Clones.

The game gets underway at 1:45pm as the Erne girls look to not only pick up some silverware but also build for the All Ireland series that is coming up.

Fermanagh coach Mickey Cadden reports that the squad is in good spirits ahead of the big occasion; “There is a great buzz around the squad at the minute,” he stated.

“Everyone is working very hard and looking forward to the final. Any time you get a chance to win an Ulster title it is a big day and everyone is just looking to getting the game going now.”

Fermanagh will be without two of their star performers in the shape of Joanne Doonan and Blaithin Bogue.

The former was their two goal hero in the semi final and is travelling in the States for the summer while the latter is on holidays for this final.

But one thing that this Erne side has is a healthy mix of youth, experience and strength in depth and Cadden believes that this is something that will aid the side this Sunday; “Some of the younger girls have been just brilliant and have surpassed all expectations really and then we have had some of the more experienced girls coming back in to it and that has helped too.

“We really have a good mixture at the moment and things have been improving all the time.”

Fermanagh will train in Clones tonight (Thursday) before meeting up tomorrow at Lissan for a final analysis session before Sunday. Fermanagh beat Derry to reach the final in the Ulster semi final with the Oak Leaf girls beating Antrim in a play-off to earn another crack at the Erne ladies.

In their last meeting Fermanagh won by 12 points but Cadden is expecting a much sterner test this time around; “We went up to watch Derry play Antrim and they were a different team. They made some positional switches and they had brought a few more girls in and to be honest they were much better so we are expecting a real fight this Sunday and we know we will have to be at our best. It is not going to be easy that is for sure.”

Eimear Smith, who is still a minor, has been one of the revelations of the season for Fermanagh and her good play has been matched by some of the more experienced players such as Sharon Murphy (nee Little) in the forward line and Shauna Hamilton in defence. Marita McDonald has been a forceful presence around the middle of the field too with the experienced Newtownbutler player adding real leadership around that middle third. In goals Fermanagh have one of the top operators in the country in the shape of Roisin Gleeson. The St Pat’s lady has been in super form with both her shot stopping, her overall play and also her kick outs and she is a vital cog in this Fermanagh machine.

For Derry the star of the show is forward Emma Doherty who kicked seven of her sides nine points when the two sides met previously. She went on to trump that scoring tally with a match winning 3-5 in their extra time victory over Antrim. Erin Doherty is another player with the goal touch and Fermanagh will have to keep a close eye on both Doherty’s to curtail the Oakleaf challenge.

Cadden though has faith in his charges and believes that the best is yet to come; “I think we have been improving all year to be honest. It has been a long season, we have been out from November and as the year has progressed we have got more and more players back and everyone has been improving. I would say all the players are on par now and it makes it a very difficult job to go and pick the team to be honest but that is a good headache for us to have,” the Fermanagh coach explained.

The dream of an All Ireland title might still be in the backs of the players minds but all roads lead to Clones this Sunday and the chance to capture an Ulster title.