Fermanagh midfielder Ryan Jones knows that they face a big test on Sunday when they take on Monaghan in Clones but he says that their aim is to extend their season further into the summer.

Fermanagh lost by six points to Donegal in Ulster but Jones states that they have quickly put that behind them and focused on the clash with their Farney neighbours.

“We had to quickly park the defeat to Donegal and get focused on the Monaghan match because we know that it is a serious task.

“The boys are looking forward to it. Collectively, we would think that there is more in us and this is another massive game.

“Monaghan are still a top team, they wouldn’t have got to an All Ireland semi-final last year if they weren’t a top team, but it is another massive chance for us to try and prove ourselves against a so called bigger side,” he said.

And both teams will believe that a win could kick start a run for them in the backdoor although Jones is not willing to look any further ahead than this Sunday’s encounter.

“Nobody wants to finish up this Sunday. We want to go on a run as long as we can and we want to get playing as many games as we can so hopefully this Sunday is the start of it.

“You can’t look ahead into the summer though when you have Monaghan facing you, that is all we are focusing on,” added the Derrygonnelly Harps clubman.

Malachy O’Rourke’s Monaghan are a seasoned side with Division One pedigree and will enter the game as favourites but Jones stresses that Fermanagh’s main concern will be on their own game and improving areas in their performance from the Donegal contest.

“We can only focus on ourselves and look at improving on what we did against Donegal.

“We know Monaghan have got quality forwards and you won’t get anything easy out of their defence so it is going to be a big challenge but we will look to identify certain areas that need to get better and if we can get our own game going and get an improvement in our own performance, I think we will pose Monaghan problems,” he added.

And he is not expecting any surprises from either side on Sunday.

“Ulster teams know each other inside out and we played them in the Ulster semi-final last year and I’m sure that Malachy would have been in watching us against Donegal.

“Look, Malachy will know everything about us but we would know Monaghan pretty well as well and it will probably be about who wants it more,” he stated.

With the game now part of a double header with the Cavan v Armagh replay, the midfielder is also expecting a great atmosphere in Clones.

“It is all to play for, it is an Ulster derby so there will be that extra edge to it and the fact that the other game is on afterwards there will be a massive crowd and it should have a great atmosphere,” he said.