Fermanagh will hope to bring their National League campaign to a successful conclusion on Saturday evening when they take on Armagh in the Division Three final at Croke Park.

There is no doubt that the league can already be declared a big success for Pete McGrath’s side. Entering the campaign the prediction was for a mid-table finish for Fermanagh but McGrath was adamant from the start that his side were in the mix for promotion and so it proved as they secured a top two finish with a game to spare.

Fermanagh’s opening six games in the programme resulted in five wins and a draw, that coming against Saturday’s opponents Armagh, with Kieran McGeeney’s outfit finishing with an identical record to Fermanagh as they both clinched promotion prior to the final round of fixtures.

Both sides were then to lose their final games, Fermanagh beaten in Ennis by Clare and Armagh losing away to Sligo, although these games were of no great importance with the two managements using their respective games to cast their eyes over their squads.

Expect both sides though to be closer to full strength on Saturday night as they look to claim the prize on offer.

Although promotion has already been achieved, which would have been the main goal at the start of the league, both sides will now have their sights set on lifting silverware while Saturday night’s final is also the last real competitive action for both counties ahead of the championship and is likely to be played at a pace and intensity approaching that which will be required when the summer rolls in.

The fact that Fermanagh and Armagh concluded promotion before the final round of fixtures would suggest that they were the two stand out sides in the division and it should make for an intriguing final in Headquarters.

As already mentioned, the sides had to be content with a point apiece when they met in the Athletic Grounds earlier in the league although it is a game that Armagh will feel that they should have won.

McGeeney’s side, who were hotly tipped from the outset for promotion, led by eight points at one stage in the first half and then five points with five minutes to go, but they wasted further opportunities to possibly put the game to bed and they were made to pay as Fermanagh produced a late surge that saw them register the final five points of the game. Indeed, if the contest had gone on any longer then there only looked to be one winner as Fermanagh dominated the closing exchanges.

However, McGrath will know that his side can ill-afford to let Armagh build up a lead like they did in the previous meeting when the sides clash on Saturday as the likelihood is that Armagh won’t let it slip again. If Fermanagh are to win then they are going to have to replicate the form they showed in the closing stages of the Athletic Grounds encounter when they had Armagh on the back foot.

The absence of Eoin Donnelly is a major blow for Fermanagh who are going to need to gain a solid footing in the middle third against a physically strong Armagh side.

Fermanagh captain Donnelly had been having a fine season and his loss will be felt by the Ernemen although they have received better news with Richie O’Callaghan having been passed fit and the Enniskillen Gaels man should take his place alongside Ryan Jones, who will captain the side, at midfield. Aaron Findon should fill one of the midfield positions for Armagh and could be joined by Ciaran O’Hanlon who has impressed in recent games.

Crucial also for Fermanagh will be to keep a tight rein on an Armagh forward line that could pose plenty of problems. Jamie Clarke is the obvious danger but in the likes of Tony Kernan, Miceal McKenna and Aidan Forker they have others who can do serious damage. Having done a good job in the recent league encounter, Marty O’Brien should be tasked with keeping Clarke quiet while Ryan McCluskey will direct and prompt the defence from his role as sweeper with Tiernan Daly having looked increasingly solid at full back.

Fermanagh will then look to give Armagh plenty to ponder at the other end of the pitch. The running game has been effective for McGrath throughout the league with the work rate of the middle eight crucial as they get up and down the pitch in support of the man in possession. And when the opportunity arises the direct ball into the full forward line has also reaped rewards for the Ernemen this season.

Fermanagh will, of course, look to talisman Sean Quigley for scores. The Roslea man was the top scorer in the country during the league and has scored heavily from both frees and open play with the full forward having a real eye for goal when the chance presents itself.

Armagh are likely to have Charlie Vernon pick up Quigley and the Armagh defender certainly has the physicality to match Quigley.

However, importantly for Fermanagh, others have stepped in with scores when Quigley has been tied up during games and the open spaces of Croke Park will suit the high energy games of the likes of Ruairi Corrigan, Paul McCusker and Barry Mulrone while Tomás Corrigan will also be expected to chip in with his fair share of scores, the Kinawley man having looked sharp in the latter stages of the league.

Defensively, McGeeney will look to experienced duo Ciaran McKeever and Andy Mallon to keep things tight while they are also the springboard for many of the Armagh attacks from the half back line.

Many will say that the real action only gets underway when the championship commences but silverware is on the line on Saturday and both sides will want to get their hands on it.

Certainly, Fermanagh have suffered league final defeats in 2008 and 2012 and there will be a desire among the squad to get their hands on a winners medal while a good performance will set them up well for the challenge of Antrim that lies ahead on May 31.

Saturday April 25th Allianz NFL Division Three Final Fermanagh v Armagh Croke Park, 7.15pm Referee: Derek Extra time playable