Judging by their performance in the recent Ulster league, the county minor team would appear to have a tremendous chance to mount a strong championship challenge starting with the quarter final curtain raiser with Monaghan at Brewster Park.
In their five match league schedule the team were to win three and lose two making this one of the better overall displays from an Erne minor panel in recent seasons.
The two defeats were at the hands of Donegal and Tyrone. The Donegal setback came in game one at Ballybofey and on that occasion, a very experimental lineout was on duty. Quite a number of players who would have been classed as first choice selection were not considered for this game, it came hard on the heels of the St Michael's McRory Cup defeat.
Prior to the league the panel preparation had been confined to players who were not on the St Michael's squad. So the opportunity was taken in Ballybofey to give the tracker panel the chance to show their worth in a competitive contest.
The team was to go down by a margin in the region of six to seven points but despite this there had been some lively individual displays and it was by no means all doom and gloom that evening under the Ballybofey lights.
Defeat two came in game four, this a relatively slender reversal at the hands of traditionally powerful Tyrone, the O'Neill county subsequently topping the section and qualifying for the provincial decider. Here again there was to be enough evidence produced that a competitive Fermanagh team was shaping up.
The other three games in the league all ended in victories, an admittedly somewhat fortuitous success over Antrim but this balanced out by comprehensive wins over Louth and Derry.
The Derry game was the last tie, this played at Irvinestown and it was in this game that the team really delivered the kind of performance that gives substance to the belief that indeed they can go on to make an impact this summer. Derry with their cluster of high profile feeder schools, St Patrick's Maghera, St Pius Magherafelt, St Colm's Draperstown, have always been a premier force in Ulster minor football but a few weeks back in Irvinestown they suffered a hefty eight point defeat at the hands of a vibrant Fermanagh side.
It has been a long time since a Fermanagh minor panel scored such a victory over opposition of this calibre.
The Fermanagh team performance in Irvinestown was an impressive one. Defensively it was solid, around the middle of the park there was a strong physical presence and up front the attack produced a livewire effort that combined quicksilver approach play and clinical finishing. A four goal haul racked up and the team were fully deserving of their sizeable success.
So the signs are promising and there has to be a confidence that advance can be made on Sunday.
No team selection available at the time of going to press but it can be taken that in the defensive lineup will feature Martin Quigley, John Duffy, PJ Rodgers, Conal Smith among others.
At centre field Derrygonnelly's Ryan Jones will be present and Richard O'Callaghan from Enniskillen a probable partner though Belcoo's Brian Cox could also be slotted in here.
Up front there is a very exciting forward line who have proved beyond all doubt that they can shoot the scores if the supply is channelled into them.
Admittedly a trifle lightweight but no shortage of pace and they should thrive in the open spaces of Brewster Park. Devenish duo Chris and Joe O'Brien, Kinawley's Tomas Corrigan and the Leonard twins, Gavin and Ryan from Belcoo collectively form an attack that will pose a major headache for the Monaghan back division.
A highly promising Fermanagh minor side to take the pitch and it will be a disappointment if they are unable to forge their way into the provincial semi final.
