New Fermanagh manager Rory Gallagher is pleased to have received a home draw in next year’s Ulster Championship with Fermanagh to host Kieran McGeeney’s Armagh in Brewster Park in the quarter-finals.
The Orchard County defeated Fermanagh in the All Ireland Qualifiers last summer at the Athletic Grounds in what was to prove to be Pete McGrath’s last game in charge, and the sides are set to get to know each other well in 2018 with Armagh also travelling to Brewster Park for a Division Three league encounter.
“You want to come out at home which we have and it is against a team from the same division so you couldn’t really ask for any more from the draw. 
“Obviously, Armagh got to the All Ireland quarter-finals last year but I suppose as starting points go both teams will look on it as a reasonable draw,” said Gallagher.
Fermanagh’s only wins in Ulster over the last seven years have come against Antrim which is something that they will be keen to address and Gallagher is determined that Fermanagh will be in peak condition when they arrive at Brewster Park to meet Armagh in the championship.
“That’s the big thing from the current players, that they haven’t really performed in the Ulster Championship. 
“They have had some success in the backdoor but in the Ulster Championship overall the results have been quite disappointing so the challenge for us now is to prepare really, really well and do everything right so that when we arrive on whatever date that the championship is confirmed for that we can produce a performance that is good enough to win games,” he added.
And Gallagher feels that it is important that Fermanagh make Brewster Park a fortress before the championship commences in the summer with four home games pencilled in for their Division Three campaign.
“When I was playing, and for a long number of years, Fermanagh players had huge success playing at Brewster Park. 
“You have to look forward to playing at home where you naturally have the advantage of the bigger crowd and if we can go into the championship having performed well at home I think it will be a big boost to us,” he said.
Indeed, he believes the fall of the league fixtures have been kind to Fermanagh with four home games and no away games that require over night stays.
“You have Wexford and Offaly in your first two games at home and they would be overnight trips if you were drawn away so that’s a massive advantage. 
“I know from my experience with Donegal over a number of years that we didn’t win too many overnight league games. Yes, you prepare well, you have team meeting and you are together but you are sleeping in a strange bed and it throws up an awful lot of variables. 
“We are happy with the way the league fixtures have fallen and it’s up to us now to prepare well and make the most of it,” said the Fermanagh manager.