Fermanagh manager Rory Gallagher has been pleased with the preparation of his side in the lead up to their Championship clash with Donegal on Sunday week in Brewster Park.

Gallagher explained that on the injury front the camp are in good shape with both Ultan Kelm and Eoin Donnelly fit for selection.

Donnelly missed some game time in the National League due to a troublesome hamstring and sat out some club games with the ongoing problem however, it has now appeared to have cleared up.

“Eoin missed a few club games, but he got one under his belt recently and he has been training with us and obviously that is good news. He is an important player for us,” Gallagher explained.

Kelm, who is still under 20 and who lit up the National League with his pace and attacking thrusts from defence is also fit for the game in what will be a repeat of last year’s Ulster final:

“Ultan had some rehab work to do to be 100% right but he is good to go now,” Gallagher stated.

The lead up to Championship sees county teams engage in friendly matches with Fermanagh, and indeed Donegal, being no different;

“Friendlies are important, but everyone knows that teams play each other. I’m sure Donegal know about our friendlies and just like we know their friendlies.

“They played Down recently in a friendly that marked a pitch opening in Down, Frank McGlynn played corner back and played very well and attacked a lot. They also had a training weekend last weekend and played a very strong southern team and performed very well.

“And I’m sure they know all about our friendlies too. But teams still play them because they are needed.”

Turning his attention to last year’s Ulster final and the lessons that needed to be learned Gallagher was typically honest in his appraisal:

“We have to learn to play to our best when the pressure is at its most.

“We played well against Armagh and Monaghan and performed in both games but against Donegal we didn’t, and we have to be big enough to acknowledge that,” he said.

He also addressed the players that Donegal have missing at present and explained that while they were of an excellent calibre the fact remained that Declan Bonner’s men were a formidable outfit:

“Anyone looking at who Donegal have missing will recognise how good they are.

“They are players that any county would love to have. But Donegal have been very competitive at underage level over the past number of years, so they have been able to introduce younger players to the mix and they are without doubt a top side.”

Donegal are of course defending Ulster champions having beaten Gallagher’s men in last year’s decider and neither team will be looking beyond the clash in Brewster Park on Sunday week.

“I think the thing about the Ulster Championship is that you have to be ready for your first game and you have to be at your best.

“Nobody looks beyond that. We are looking forward to the challenge,” said Gallagher.