Before the league started Fermanagh manager Pete McGrath told the Impartial Reporter that his side had to be targeting promotion this season.

Last season they had finished third in McGrath’s first season at the helm, and the year before they were also third under Peter Canavan, missing out on the final day following a defeat to Meath in Navan.

McGrath though was confident that the hard work that the squad had put in during pre-season would stand to them and while he acknowledged that it was a tough looking and competitive division, he stressed that there was no reason why Fermanagh should not be in the shake up.

And that view has been proven correct as McGrath has watched his side take another step towards promotion on Sunday with a nine point victory over Limerick at Brewster Park.

That win leaves Fermanagh behind Armagh only on scoring difference in the Division Three with both sides having won four and drawn one, the game between the two ending all square at the Athletic Grounds a fortnight ago.

Ultimately, it means that if Fermanagh can win either of their last two games, which are away to Wexford on March 29 and away to Clare on April 5, then they will guarantee promotion. The goal is therefore being closed in on, but Fermanagh are not there yet and you can be sure that the management will be emphasising this fact to the players over the next ten days as they get ready for the trip to a Wexford side who are battling for their Division Three lives at the foot of the table.

There is no doubt though that McGrath will be delighted with many aspects of Fermanagh’s play to date this season.

Last season it was well documented that while Fermanagh were scoring for fun, they were leaking far too many scores at the other end of the pitch, especially goals. This was something that McGrath was keen to address and certainly Fermanagh have been much more solid at the back over the course of the league with a high energy game plan of defending in numbers and then getting men forward at pace in support of the man on the ball one when they attack, one that has worked well this season.

Fermanagh’s improved defensive system can be highlighted by the fact that up to Sunday they had only conceded one goal although they will have been disappointed to have coughed up two goals against Limerick.

At midfield Eoin Donnelly and Richard O’Callaghan have forged a good understanding and the work rate of the middle eight in general has been very impressive.

And in attack Fermanagh have a couple of key performers. Sean Quigley’s performances put him up there with the top forwards in the country. Indeed, he leads the scoring charts over all four divisions having helped himself to 1-36 over the five games played to date. He is not only a free taker of real substance, something Fermanagh have longed for in recent times, but also a big threat from open play while his creativity is something that often goes unnoticed.

The other forward who has caught the eye on a consistent basis has been Ruairi Corrigan. The Kinawley man saw very little game time last season but took his chance against Laois in the Qualifiers last summer and hasn’t looked back since. His stunning goals against Armagh and Limerick have brought him into the limelight but there is so much more to his game. He has a phenomenal work ethic and the work he has done in the gym is reaping rewards as he is able to break tackles and get his side on the front foot while he always uses the ball intelligently.

As I’ve already said though, the job is not completed yet. And there will be aspects of Sunday’s performance that the management will be keen to rectify ahead of the Wexford clash. At times, Fermanagh played like they did last season with too many holes appearing in defence and Limerick could easily have had a third goal, having rattled the crossbar in the first half.

The intensity, movement and support play was very impressive during the spell in the second half when Fermanagh put the game to bed but they will also be concerned that they did not maintain that and instead switched off in the latter stages when Limerick recorded 1-04 in the final ten minutes.

Fermanagh are not the finished article, there is still plenty more work to be done, but they are a side that are moving in the right direction and they can take another step in their progress by going on and sealing promotion to Division Two.