On Sunday, Sean Doherty and his Kinawley teammates will be hoping to have booked their place in the semi-final of the Ulster Intermediate Championship.

With four Intermediate championship medals in his pocket, Doherty has yet to taste victory on the provincial stage.

In fact he points out that the team that has beaten them in Ulster has went on to contest the final, but he hopes that the Borus can be the first Fermanagh side since Derrylin to progress in the Ulster Intermediate.

It has been quite the break for Kinawley since their Intermediate triumph over Belcoo on September 7, but Doherty feels the break has worked to their advantage as the extra time has given them the opportunity to recharge and refresh.

“Things have been going well to be honest. I know it’s a big gap and all that but I suppose we had the Teemore game in the relegation play-offs and we put a fair bit of effort into that.

“We had a few challenge matches and positive enough results and maybe found a few boys and a bit of extra training for lads like Tomás who only came back, and Ruairi who wasn’t long back.

“It’s been a good break, almost like a pre season again.”

The hunger to succeed was evident by the desire of players to keep on going and take no break from football after Fermanagh football had finished and after a tough Intermediate campaign.

“In fairness the championship was a tough one. I do think the Intermediate is as strong as any championship in the county, probably one of the stronger ones in Ulster at Intermediate level. So it did take a fair bit out of us.

“There was a call to take a week off but in fairness the young lads they wanted to keep going so us old boys have to just keep going.”

Kinawley were last in Ulster in 2016 when they lost to then Antrim champions Aghagallon and Doherty feels they didn’t give a true account of themselves.

“In 2016 we were in Ulster and I suppose we were very disappointed. We probably thought we had a bit of experience there. In hindsight you look back now a lot of the young lads had come in then and we were obviously minus Tomás, minus Ruairi and Sean McManus three probably county standard players in the first round.

“The focus after the final was can we get a win in the Ulster Intermediate Championship, something that we haven’t done three times previous as a club.”

Doherty expects an even contest in Brewster Park against Down champions, Glenn John Martins. Some of the Kinawley players have watched Glenn in the semi-final and final and they will provide a stern examination for the Borus.

“They look a lot to young (Jack) McCartan in the half forward line. (Joe) Sands is quite good and they have a couple of Bagnalls who are very strong in around the forward line who will take a lot of watching.

“They do get a lot of men behind the ball and try to hit you on the counter attack. We are well tuned in to what they will bring to the game and it’s just about counteracting that and making sure we focus on what we do well.”

And Doherty is confident Kinawley have the players to negate the Glenn threat.

“We do have lads who have good running power. We have to look at that. We have to get our speed merchants on the ball as much as possible.

“They way they play will suit us to an extent it will create opportunities for boys to exploit a wee bit of space left.

“But I think both teams will be evenly matched so hopefully we can cause a bit of trouble,” added Doherty.

In his 20th year of senior football and his fourth Ulster campaign, Doherty will be hoping that this journey goes on that bit longer.