An often used expression when commentators talk about Fermanagh is that we constantly punch above our weight. It is well known that we have the smallest playing population in Ireland and, with only 21 clubs in the county, we certainly have to make the best of our resources if we want to compete with the best. But, what Fermanagh has shown over the past decade is the ability to compete. From 1984 to 1998, inclusive, only two Ulster Championship wins were gained and both these came at the expense of fellow minnows Antrim. In those 15 years Fermanagh had two wins, one draw and 15 losses in the Ulster Championship.

The last ten years, however has seen a vast improvement in those figures with three draws and seven wins being achieved against ten losses in the Ulster Championship. Indeed, in a five year run between 1999 and 2003, Fermanagh managed to win a game every year in the Ulster Championship. A modest achievement perhaps in other counties' eyes, but for a county who had experienced a barren time over the previous decade and a half, it was something of a pleasing turnaround.

Things look even better when the back door results are taken into account. Fermanagh have more than benefited from this change in Championship structure, and the results show that when the boys in Green have taken to the field in the search for 'Sam', they more often than not win. In 29 Championship games over the past ten years, we have won 18 times, lost 17 and drawn four.

Dominic Corrigan has been the most successful manager in terms of percentages, while Charlie Mulgrew has been in charge for the most games, 18 in total.

Championship games of the past decade can be broken down as follows:

PAT KING: 1998 - 2000

1998 - Draw and defeat in replay against Cavan in Ulster Championship

1999 - Win against Monaghan and then defeat against Tyrone in Ulster Championship

2000 - Wins against Monaghan and Donegal in Ulster Championship followed by defeat to Armagh in Ulster Semi Final

There was no back door system in place during these three years.

RECORD

PLAYED 7

WON 3

DRAWN 1

LOST 3

JOHN MAUGHAN: 2001

2001 - Drew and win in replay against Donegal followed by defeat to Monaghan in Ulster Championship.

Defeat against Donegal in the All Ireland Qualifiers

RECORD

PLAYED 4

WON 1

DRAWN 1

LOST 2

DOMINIC CORRIGAN: 2002 - 2003

2002 - Win against Monaghan followed by defeat in the Ulster semi final to Armagh

Win against Westmeath followed by defeat to Kerry in Qualifiers.

2003 - Win against Donegal followed by defeat to Down in Ulster Championship.

Wins in qualifiers against Cavan, Meath and Mayo followed by defeat to Tyrone in the All Ireland semi final.

RECORD

PLAYED 10

WON 6

DRAWN 0

LOST 4

CHARLIE MULGREW: 2004 - 2007

2004 - Defeat to Tyrone in Ulster Championship.

Wins against Meath, Cork, Donegal in qualifiers and Armagh in All Ireland Quarter final followed by a draw and then a defeat against Mayo in the All Ireland semi final.

2005 - Defeat to Armagh in the Ulster Championship was followed by another defeat to Down in the qualifiers.

2006 - Win against Antrim was followed by a draw and then defeat to Armagh in the semi final of the Ulster Championship.

Wins against Clare and Wexford in the backdoor was followed by defeat against Donegal.

2007 - Defeat against Tyrone in the Ulster Championship was followed by a win against Wexford in the qualifiers before a defeat to Meath.

RECORD

PLAYED 18

WON 8

DRAWN 2

LOST 8