Fermanagh manager Kieran Donnelly expects a fast paced game as his side and Antrim battle it out at the Athletic Grounds on Sunday for top spot in Tailteann Cup Group Four.

Both sides have already confirmed their place in the knockout stage but for the winner it will be a place straight into the quarter finals while the loser will go into the play off game to try and make it through to the last eight.

With a big prize then up for grabs, Donnelly expects a championship edge to the contest.

“It is a game that everyone had maybe pre-empted, that the winner of this final game would end up top of the group and that’s the way we had planned it and it has materialised that way.

“It has a real championship feel about it because both teams will want to win it and finish top of the group and have that extra break going into a quarter final.

“We are expecting a fast game, both teams have pace from deep, that’s Antrim’s key strength. They have runners in the likes of Healy, McAleese and Jordan from deep so we expect it to be fast paced so we will have to be very aware of that,” said Donnelly.

Antrim have impressed in their two games to date as they saw off Leitrim and Wexford and Donnelly knows from experience that they carry a real goal scoring threat.

“They racked up good scores in their two games and even in the league they have rattled in goals, they always seem to be able to get goals and that is a key plus - they have a defence that likes to attack.

“We have to be very wary of that and try and nullify those players as well as we can and then hope that we can try and control possession which we did for long periods in Corrigan Park in the league game, it was just that they hit us for those two or three sucker punches for goals at critical times that day.”

In that league game earlier in the year the Saffrons had looked as if they were well on their way to victory but Fermanagh produced a late injury time surge to take the spoils.

“They will come wanting to right the wrongs from that and they will probably feel hard done by that day but it leads into a nicely balanced game, there is very little between the teams,” said Donnelly.

“Antrim would feel that they are in this competition with a good chance so it should be a competitive fixture on Sunday.”

As Donnelly already alluded to, Fermanagh had expected this game would be the one to decide top spot and they used the draw against Wexford and win over Leitrim to have a look at different players. And he says they are looking forward to this tussle.

“The first two games allowed me to open up the squad and look at players who had trained well and who didn’t maybe get a chance at certain junctures in the league. We got to do that which was pleasing and the players are looking forward to this one.

‘Bigger game feel’

“It has that bigger game feel and as always the players have trained well and we know it is an important game leading into the next stage of the competition,” he stated.

Sunday is set to be another warm day and that could well be a factor for both sides to consider as well.

“It is going to be warm and that can have a factor on how you play your game because you are not accustomed to playing in that sort of heat but both teams will have to adapt.

“Sometimes when you are playing in that weather you have to be able to mix your play a wee bit which I feel is something we can do well if we have to.”

On the squad front, Donnelly admits that Darragh McGurn remains a doubt but others have returned to strengthen his hand ahead of the showdown at the Athletic Grounds.

“Most players have returned now which is the most pleasing thing over the last two or three weeks.

“Training has been good which is reflective of the fact that Joe McDade and Ciaran Corrigan have returned and added that wee bit of extra quality.

“We are still monitoring Darragh McGurn while Diarmuid King and Aoghan Kelm have wee niggles. They are the only three that we are keeping an eye on in terms of their injury situation,” said the Erne boss.