Fermanagh can upset Armagh in this weekend's Ulster championship clash, but they will need to adopt a defensive display similar to the 2018 display that saw them turn over the Orchard County, according to former player Ryan McCluskey.
Seamus Quigley’s half a dozen points were key to a five-point victory at Brewster Park, and they enter Sunday’s clash again as underdogs.
Both sides competed in Division 2 this year – Armagh left Enniskillen with two points in March after a hard-fought win - but they ended the campaign at either end of the table; McGeeney’s side finishing in the top two to secure Division 1 football next year, Fermanagh suffering relegation after winning just two matches.
Speaking on the RTÉ GAA podcast, McCluskey says the 2018 performance is one that could be drawn on to help Kieran Donnelly’s men progress.
"We made no bones about it (in 2018)," he said. "We were going to sit back, try and play a high pace, counter-attacking game.
"We forced a lot of mistakes, in particular kicking mistakes from Armagh. We played that risky game where we invited them on and took our chances.
'I think Fermanagh can stifle Armagh. I don't think they have anything to fear' - Ryan McCluskey says his county men will need to be defensively spot on to turn over Kieran McGeeney's side on Sunday
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"We were pretty resilient that day and we had a decent game plan. I think if we produce anything similar to that I think there could be a shock on the cards.
With Stephen McGullion, the Cullen brothers Che and Lee in a defence that may see the return of Johnny Cassidy, McCluskey says the personnel is there to thwart the Armagh forward line which has a number of serious threats.
While senior figures like Seán Quigley and Ryan Jones have left a void to fill for Fermanagh, a patient approach could see the men in green in the hunt coming down the stretch according to McCluskey.
"I think we can stifle them. I don’t think they have anything to fear."
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