Fermanagh manager Peter Canavan says his side are going to have to gain promotion to Division Two the hard way and avoid defeat against Meath on Sunday without a number of their regulars.

The double All-Ireland winner with Tyrone confirmed that none of his four most seriously injured stars – James Sherry (broken hand), Seán Quigley (broken ankle), Eoin Donnelly (broken leg) and Ruairí Corrigan (broken jaw) – will be fit for the trip to Navan.

Sherry was the most likely to make a return after picking up the injury at training in early February, but he is still some time away from fitness after having his cast removed just two weeks ago.

Final effort
And with just a point required from their final league game to secure consecutive promotions under his stewardship, Canavan is hopeful that his side will be able to put in one final effort to reach the league final.

“It is a big blow not to have any of the lads available, but at this stage we are talking months rather than weeks for them.

“We have a few more knocks that look like they won’t be ready either. We had hoped to have a full strength team for the game, with all hands on deck because it is never an easy game against Meath.

“But promotion to Division Two is a big prize for us. Anything but defeat will see us through. For a side that was favourites along with Wicklow to go down at the start, we haven’t done too badly and to still be in the hunt with one game to go is a huge boost to us. I’d have taken that,” said the six-time All-Star.

The absence of the quartet was been offset by the return of defender Barry Owens from a one-match suspension, while Ryan Jones should be available to start after making his comeback from illness with a substitute appearance against Sligo.

And Canavan is hoping that another good result on Sunday could maybe help his side in their preparation for the Ulster championship, where they have not registered a win since 2010.

“For every team championship is the target, but we want to do the best we can in the league too.”