Fermanagh manager Kieran Donnelly speaks to Gareth Cauldwell ahead of Saturday’s big game and answers some of the key questions.

GC. Are you pleased with how this year has gone so far?

KD. The sole objective in the league was promotion and we reached that goal so as a squad and a management team we were happy with that.

Yes, we would liked to have finished off with a bit of silverware but our premier goal was to get promotion and we are glad we got it.

It nicely leads into championship and I think that is what players want, you have a two week bounce into the championship and it means that you now have full focus for that game.

GC. There has been good progression from last year. What do you see as being the main areas of improvement?

KD. I think the main thing was that players have got experience from last year because it is a tough division and it is a physical division. We got fitter and stronger and our game management got better as well in those tight scenarios and that just comes with experience.

I thought our ability at key junctures of tight games just to take the right decisions was probably the big factor in winning the Down game and even the Antrim game and the last ten or 15 minutes of the Cavan game in Breffni Park, I felt we showed good composure. That just comes from winning close games.

GC. The team has also shown character and resilience at times which is important.

KD. That has been another big plus because in a lot of those games you could easily have felt sorry for yourself.

In the Down game they got a sucker punch of a goal on us and we went up the field and responded and it was the same with the Antrim game as well and the Westmeath game went right to the wire too.

The boys can take confidence from that and I think they have and they are looking forward to bringing that confidence and bit of toughness into the championship. GC. Fermanagh averaged more scores and had a wide spread of scorers on a regular basis throughout the league. Is that testament to the work that Ronan O’Neill has done? KD. In our first team meeting we commented that any team that wins things always has a spread of scores across the board.

We used Glen Maghera as an example, they had numerous scores coming from different positions throughout their team and we felt that has to be the case at this level.

Ronan really has added to that; he has added a freshness and a specificness to our forward play which all helps.

You are dealing in small percentages at this level so any wee extra you can gain definitely adds to winning bigger games.

GC. The league is over, it is championship time now and Ulster champions Derry await on Saturday. It would be fair to say that this will be the toughest test to date this year.

KD. It is brilliant in that you are looking that progression all the time and we have gradually built throughout the league and then to play the likes of Derry in this first round, it means that your opposition has got higher and you have got to be more composed on the ball.

They are going to cause you different problems in different areas. There is no doubt that they are on their game at the minute. They have had an equally successful league campaign and will be going into this championship confident, but so are we.

That’s one thing about our squad, we don’t fear this game.

Our boys are really looking forward to it. It is exactly the sort of game you want to play and I can sense that from the players. They are really looking forward to the game and the fact that it is in Brewster really adds that little bit of spice for us.

GC It is of course the first game of the season in Brewster Park. Is that something the players are relishing?

KD. We always enjoy playing in Brewster Park and it is good to be back home and back playing hopefully in front of a good Fermanagh support.

It is a game that will have a real championship feel and the players will relish that.

GC. What do you see as being the key to this game from a Fermanagh perspective?

KD. The higher the level you go it is all mental focus and discipline out of possession is the key.

At any stage that you switch off or give away possession you are punished and as much as the game has evolved, developed and got more tactical it always boils down to simplicity; using the ball well, not giving it away in key areas and taking the right option.

That higher level, if you don’t do that you are punished. Possession is key and more so the higher level you go. I think we have improved in that aspect of our game, we are smarter on the ball and have a better game management. Our discipline out of possession will be vital on Saturday.

GC. Last year against Tyrone you played really well for long periods but maybe missed a few goal chances. They will have to go in this week?

KD. Against teams in big games you have to maximise your chances, I think that’s critical.

We created those chances last year against Tyrone and played a nice brand of football at that stage but that 15 minutes after half time was massive for Tyrone after we didn’t take our chances in the first half. It left us facing an uphill battle.

Taking our chances against higher opposition is massive and especially on Saturday against Derry who are so defensively solid that if those opportunities arrive we will have to maximise them.

GC. Ciaran McFaul has returned to the Derry squad. Do you have to take him into consideration now when planning for Saturday?

KD. He’s an excellent player and I would say that Rory is delighted to have him back in the squad and that’s Rory’s decision about how he utilises him.

From our perspective, we have to cover every eventuality when planning and he is probably one that we have to plan for going into the weekend.

GC. And injury wise, how are you for Saturday? KD. Ciaran Corrigan and Joe McDade are out but thankfully other than that we have a clean bill of health and everybody is raring to go.