When Conor McShea was asked to join up with the Fermanagh football squad last year he turned down the invite, the Enniskillen Gaels man feeling that he wasn’t ready for that step up while the talented hurler was also keen to play Nicky Rackard having been a key part of the hurling squad that won the Lory Meagher Cup the year previous.

However, when Kieran Donnelly came calling again McShea accepted the offer.

It meant making the difficult decision to step away from the hurling squad where his father Ollie is part of the management squad but this year McShea felt he was ready to test himself with the footballers.

“I was called up (to the football squad) the year before but I didn’t feel I was ready for it yet and I wasn’t 100 per cent sure of my ability to go up.

“Also, we had just won the Lory Meagher Cup with the hurlers and we had the chance to play Nicky Rackard which was something I wanted to do. But this year I felt I was ready to give it a go. It was a tough decision and I do miss the hurling. I’m always looking at the results and every weekend I’m home asking Dad how they are getting on,” he said.

He is though enjoying his time with the footballers.

“I’ve been loving it. I maybe found it a bit tough at the start of the year with all the extra gym work and pitch sessions we were having but I’ve really relished it.

“I’ve been lucky that we’ve had such a good year in my first season in the squad with getting promotion,” he said.

It took McShea time to make his mark and he acknowledges that there is a lot of competition for places but he still played his part in helping secure that promotion to Division Two.

“Personally I couldn’t get into the 26 for the first two league games and then I was kind of used as the example of if you keep working hard you can get in because I went in then into the starting 15 against Down.

“We have a really strong squad this year, there is a lot of competition for places. There is some quality footballers not getting in the 26 for matches and you just have to keep working hard,” he said.

McShea came off the bench in Croke Park as Fermanagh lost the league decider to Cavan but the focus has quickly turned from that to Saturday’s encounter against Derry.

“We wanted to win the league final but it wasn’t to be but it is important now that we bounce back and get a result against Derry.

“As a player these are the games you want to be playing in. It’s probably the fixture you look for at the start of the year and obviously it’s a home game, so we are looking forward to it,” he added.

With Brewster Park having required work this is the first time the team will have played there this year but McShea is hoping that a big home support can push Fermanagh on.

“We have been lucky in that Ederney has worked so well for us, there is brilliant facilities out there, but Brewster is the county grounds and hopefully we can get a big crowd and they can help us try and get across the line on Saturday,” said McShea.

However, he knows that they face a huge test against a Derry side who are the reigning Ulster champions and who will be red hot favourites to progress.

“Derry won’t be easy. We know what they’ll bring, they have some high quality footballers. They run from deep and Rory Gallagher likes to get the whole team up so all 15 will be attacking at us but we are ready to give it our best shot.”.

But, McShea stresses that Fermanagh have the belief that they can spring a surprise on Saturday.

“The belief is there, we know we have a quality squad and our subs who come in can make a difference in the game.

“If we can keep it close into the second half and then get the finishers in we will hopefully have a chance of getting over the line,” he concluded.