By Colm Bradley

Everyone had the same consensus after Sunday's game. 'Twas the three goals that bate us.' And I suppose it was. No point in denying the obvious. But there is also no point in pinning the entire blame on individuals who made errors either. One person asked me on Monday where we got this Fergal Murphy boy from? 'Ah, so you enjoyed the old sun in Parnell Park did you?' I asked him. He was confused looking so I explained that he must be one of those fans who only goes to watch Fermanagh in big games in Dublin. 'Waddaya mean?' he retorted, 'I'm no sunshine fan.' And while it was nice to see the penny drop, I unfortunately could not let the issue drop. So after a few more questions we had established that for various reasons he had missed the entire rest of the National League programme and was completely unaware that Fergal had played, and played well, in two games during the league. He also was unaware that Fergal was a member of the squad back in 2004, has a Sigerson medal in his back pocket and for a number of years was number one at Queens University.

Engaging the tongue before the brain is a luxury many fans indulge in. And it's a weakness of mine that I cannot let the opinions of the uninformed slide past without challenge. I just have to call them on it. Of course there is nothing wrong with informed constructive criticism but inaccurate player bashing is something entirely different. This Fermanagh squad, and that includes all 35 players, have dedicated and committed themselves completely to the cause thus far this year and Sunday must have really knocked them. A national final is a national final and from their reactions at the final whistle and indeed the fight and spirit shown throughout the game the Fermanagh players really wanted to win this one.

But at the same time each and every one of them would rather a win against Monaghan in the first round of the Championship than a division three league title. A victory in three and a half weeks in Brewster Park will erase Sunday's defeat from the memory banks. But will that win come? That is the question on everyone's lips now. At the moment it is a toss up in my mind and I don't think league form will really play that big a role on the day. Yes, both teams will be satisfied with their work thus far but neither will be reading too much into it. In reality the real stuff starts now.

Monaghan are a dangerous animal in my mind. Their defeats in the last two games of the League will only have a positive effect on them. Knowing Martin McElkennon, the Monaghan trainer, he will be reminding the players in training every night that they have fallen from grace. That last years run to the Provincial decider is gone and forgotten. That people are saying their heroic performance against Kerry in the All Ireland quarter final was the crest of a wave rather than the catalyst for a bright and brave new future.

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Knowing Martin McElkennon, the Monaghan trainer, he will be reminding the players in training every night that they have fallen from grace..... That people are saying their heroic performance against Kerry in the All Ireland quarter final was the crest of a wave rather than the catalyst for a bright and brave new future.

He will be telling them that a defeat against Fermanagh will consign them to the pile of one season wonders which have littered the GAA over the recent past. He will be reminding them of Fermanagh's impressive record against them. In short he will have them chomping at the bit and determined to prove everyone wrong. The fact that much of what they will be told will have been manufactured in McElkennon's head is neither here nor there. The point is that it will have the desired effect

But none of this should bother O'Rourke or Fermanagh. The sides are evenly matched in terms of ability and no amount of head games will change that fact. Over the next few weeks the Derrylin native will have to settle on a final team. In my mind there are five or so positions up for grabs and I'm sure training will be competitive with players giving it their all to grab a starting place. And while Monaghan will be well motivated there should be no problem getting the heads right in the Fermanagh camp either. A return to Brewster Park and the fact that it is the Ulster Championship should be enough to get players up for the game. Indeed if anything the trick will be to keep players in check and not let the occasion get the better of them. This would be my only worry.

All season I have got the impression that there is a feeling within the county that this is the year. That Malachy is the messiah and that an Ulster Championship is ours. Any trickle of this sentiment into the Fermanagh camp needs to be washed away, as I'm sure it will be. It is every Fermanagh players ambition to win an Ulster Championship but this cannot hang like a weight around the neck. All that matters is Monaghan. There can be nothing after that. This is the mindset that is needed and I'm sure the players have already adopted it. It will be an almighty battle in Brewster in three and a half weeks time and the team who holds their nerve will emerge.

Yes, a time for calm heads I think.