For the first time since 2004, Fermanagh footballers have made it to the All-Ireland quarter-final. Saturday's nine-point win over Westmeath at Kingspan Breffni Park sets up a date with Dublin at Croke Park on 2 August. And while thoughts will soon turn as to how the Ernesiders will cope with the all-conquering Dubs, supporters will rightly savour the here and now and the progress that Pete McGrath has made in his second year in charge of the county.
In assessing the victory over Westmeath, McGrath was quick to pay tribute to corner forward Tomás Corrigan. The Kinawley clubman was responsible for 1-07 of Fermanagh's total of 1-13. "Tomas put on a virtuoso display," was how his manager summed up the player's contribution when speaking to RTÉ Sport.
As was the case in the previous game against Roscommon, Corrigan took over the free-taking duties from Sean Quigley, and again showed a level of composure to ensure that Fermanagh made a positive impression on the scoreboard.
"Tomas's free-taking was unerring and none of them were easy," added McGrath.
"From frees and from play his kicking was exemplary and then there was the way he took his goal. You just had to admire the coolness, composure and the skill he showed in lobbing the 'keeper. He is a very talented and capable player. Last year he didn't play for us in the championship because he was injured and we really missed him."
It was Corrigan's three points just before half-time that provided a springboard for Fermanagh to push on against Westmeath. Indeed, much of the opening 35 minutes saw the midlanders dictate affairs, with the Ernesiders' cause not helped by the black cards handed out to the influential Marty O'Brien and Ryan McCluskey.
For McGrath, it was the classic case of a game of two halves, yet he was ultimately pleased at this way his side finished the game.
"I thought in the first half for long periods we were a bit tentative and weren't playing with our normal energy, confidence and fluency.
"Westmeath were asking all the hard questions. We were finding it very difficult to score and hit about nine wides in total. But the three points we got prior to half-time left us in a much better place. Going out for the start of the second half I knew and the players knew that If we brought our best game and got our best performance up and running that we would win.
"In the second period we controlled the game and our possession and movement was good. The scores started to come and the confidence began to really flow through the team. In the end we won very comfortably."
