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ADVERT ADVERT I t's only two years ago! Nineteen months to be exact since Fermanagh were crowned TG4 All-Ireland junior football champions. But it was a different time. Their victory over Wicklow was played in Parnell Park. There were no spectators in attendance. COVID-19 had an iron grip on the country and only the teams were in Dublin. The Erne County were ready to attack the intermediate tier but unfortunately, they couldn't maintain that form. Last year closed out with manager Johnny Garrity departing following a winless year, relegation back to junior football, and as many as eight defections from the starting team. New manager James Daly arrived to build again from the start (or so we thought). A new team to find its feet and hopefully plot a path towards championship silverware. The one consistent between both periods was Eimear Smyth, their lethal weapon who scored 1-5 in the 2020 final, 0-6 in last year's relegation loss to Longford, and 3-7 in this year's 7-9 to 3-12 semi-final victory over Limerick. "Any way I can help out the team and do my job as a forward," said Smyth modestly. "Girls are trying to keep them out the other end but our job is to score them. But you had the likes of Laura Grew (and) Bláithín Bogue getting goals there as well. It's not all put on me. "There was a great spread of scorers as well I think, which is great to see." Bogue and Grew have broken into the team, while Molly McGloin and Andrea Gordon will handle the captain responsibilities. But Smyth is the leader, their most consistent performer since emerging in 2017. But she's by no means the oldest! Indeed, eight of the expected starting team in Croke Park against Antrim for this year's TG4 All-Ireland Junior football final are older. Some have come and returned. Others lost their spots and regained it. There's no shortage of footballers in Fermanagh. "There was a big turnover of personnel," added the 21-year- old student. "Just different people with different commitments decided to take a step away. "There are a lot of players in Fermanagh that can play football and I think we're showing that now. But it's great to get (for) those girls the experience of winning (the semi-final)." However, it wasn't looking good in their opening Lidl National League match back on February 13th when Leitrim demolished their northern neighbours 4-18 to 1-6. Already, the plans looked up in smoke, with last year's All-Ireland finalists and championship favourites Antrim next up. But the Fermanagh class of 2022 didn't bow their heads. They took on their rivals in the first of what will be four meetings this DELIVERY when it matters Eimear Smyth, Fermanagh's sharp shooter, talks to Darren Kelly about getting ready to deliver on the big stage. INTERVIEW www.ladiesgaelic.ie | SUMMER 2022 | 41