ULSTER SFC FINAL: Question 1: What two counties have yet to win a senior provincial football title? (Hint: one of them is Wicklow.) Question 2: What county has yet to win a provincial football title but has made it to an All-Ireland semi-final?
THEY WON'T need any reminding, but Fermanagh have the (dis)honour of answering to both questions, at least until Sunday's Ulster final in Clones. If they have their way up there, they'll finally put an end to over a century of mostly traumatic experiences - and help close one of the last unwritten chapters in GAA history.
With Armagh standing in the way, a team looking to win their seventh Ulster title of the decade, it's a huge ask, and they're not the first Fermanagh team to come knocking on the door of provincial glory.
Over the years, several Fermanagh teams showed promise, while others buckled under expectations. Most failed for no apparent reason. In fact, Fermanagh have made only four Ulster finals - the last of which was in 1982, when they were, coincidentally, beaten by Armagh.
Throughout the 1990s, they enjoyed a grand total of three championship victories (two over Antrim and one over Monaghan).
Gradually, they rose from their despair, and their famous qualifier run of 2004 - where they beat Meath, Cork, Donegal and Armagh to reach the All-Ireland semi-final - at last gained them proper respect.
Just when it seemed that that respect was waning, Fermanagh came out this summer and beat Monaghan and Derry - both of whom had far more transparent provincial ambitions. For at least half the current Fermanagh team, the burden of not winning a provincial title is largely meaningless, given they weren't even born for the last final appearance of 1982.
Forward Eamon Maguire was born a year later, and so any grilling on the lack of success and the pressure of Sunday generally goes right over his head. When you've got nothing, you've got nothing to lose.
"Sure, it's mentioned a lot," says Maguire. "We're always being reminded of that. That brings an extra little bit of pressure, perhaps, but all we can do is treat it as another match. We just have to go out and produce another performance, and see where that takes it. I mean I wasn't around in 1982, so I'm not talking about it anyway."
"We understand exactly what Armagh have to offer. It won't be an easy task, by no means. I just think the hunger we have this year is second to none. We just have to show that again on Sunday."
Their hunger was certainly evident in the wins over Monaghan and Derry, when they stopped, among others, the challenge of Tomás Freeman and Paddy Bradley. This time, they'll have to stop Steven McDonnell and Ronan Clarke - just for starters.
"Our defence has been very good, even over the last couple of years. If you look at the stats, we've a great record. Ryan McCluskey and Shane Goan are always consistent and have been playing together for nearly 10 years now.
"Having Barry Owens back is a massive boost as well. Just to see him in good health again, and a part of it.
"Armagh are always very strong up the middle. We'll just have to move the ball as quick as possible, keep it going, and keep it out of the middle."
Maguire joined the panel just in time for their memorable 2004 run. He is now aged 24, and his work rate, energy and pure enthusiasm epitomise the Fermanagh team.
It's something manager Malachy O'Rourke has been working hard on since taking over last November, a successful approach he honed with several club teams including Cavan Gaels, the Loup and Errigal Ciarán.
"Malachy is keeping us right, feet on the ground. I think we can take that step. He's just brought that bit of honesty. His whole set- up has been immaculate, very professional. He just expects what he sees in front of him at training.
"And he's a Fermanagh man through and through. He's been there, played long enough, and understands the passion that is required to get to this stage. I suppose the backbone of that 2004 team is still there, and we've just brushed up on it. We've a good game plan in place. We understand what Malachy wants, and we're sticking to it. Most of the time."
Fermanagh have no fear of Armagh - even with the high stakes of Sunday. They've never known any other way except to go in as underdogs: "You're always thinking of that. But we're used to it too. We're going to be written off, no matter what.
"You need luck with you as well, but our game plan is more enforced now. It's come a long way though, in that we've put a lot of it into practice. Right through playing in Division Three of the league, the expectations were never there. We knew we were going well, putting the work in all year, going back to November. So it's more exciting for us, than fear."
Gaelic Games Fixtures
Today
Ulster Under-21 HC Semi-finals - Antrim v Down, Casement Park, 7.30pm, E Hassan (Derry); Armagh v Derry, Middletown, 7.30pm, Jim O'Rourke (Monaghan).
Thursday
Munster Under-21 HC Semi-final - Tipperary v Limerick, Semple Stadium, 7.30pm, D Copps (Cork), extra-time if necessary.
Saturday
All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers (Round One, extra-time if necessary) - Limerick v Meath, Gaelic Grounds, 7pm, V Neary (Mayo); Longford v Laois, Pearse Park, 7pm, T Quigley (Dublin); Kildare v Cavan, Newbridge, 7pm, C Reilly (Meath); Offaly v Down, Tullamore, 7pm, A Mangan (Kerry); Louth v Tyrone, Drogheda, 7pm, J McKee (Armagh); Tipperary v Westmeath, Ardfinnan, 3pm, M Deegan (Laois); Donegal v Roscommon, Ballybofey, 5pm, J Bannon (Longford); Monaghan v Derry, Clones, 3pm, D Coldrick (Meath), Live on TV3.
Tommy Murphy Cup (Round One, extra-time if necessary) - London v Sligo, Ruislip, time TBA, E Kinsella (Laois); Antrim v Carlow, Casement Park, 3.30pm, R O'Donnell (Donegal); Clare v Leitrim, Ennis, 7pm, P McGovern (Galway); Wicklow v Waterford, Aughrim, 7pm, P Fox (Westmeath).
All-Ireland SHC Qualifiers (Round Four, extra-time if necessary) - Offaly v Waterford, Semple Stadium, 5pm, referee TBA, Live on RTÉ 2; Cork v Galway, Semple Stadium, 7pm, referee TBA, Live RTÉ 2.
All-Ireland SHC Qualifier Relegation Play-off - Antrim v Laois, Páirc Tailteann, 2.30pm, referee TBA, extra-time if required. Christy Ring Cup Quarter-final (extra-time if necessary) - Wicklow v Mayo, Aughrim, 5pm; Down v Derry, Newry, 5pm; Kerry v Carlow, Tralee, 3pm; Kildare v Westmeath, Newbridge, 5pm.
Nicky Rackard Cup Quarter-final (extra-time if necessary) - Fingal v Leitrim, Parnell Park, 3pm; Non Ards v Louth, Newry, 1pm; Monaghan v Cavan, Clones, 1pm; Sligo v Tyrone, Markievicz Park, 3pm.
Women's All-Ireland Minor football Semi-final - Dublin v Mayo, Páirc Ciaráin, 3pm, E O'Hare.
Sunday
Leinster SFC Final - Dublin v Wexford, Croke Park, 4pm, G Ó Conamha (Galway), Live RTÉ 2.
Leinster MFC Final - Meath v Offaly, Croke Park, 2.15pm.
Ulster SFC Final - Fermanagh v Armagh, Clones, 2pm, J White (Donegal), Live TV3.
Ulster MFC Final - Monaghan v Tyrone, Clones, noon, JJ Cleary (Derry).
Women's football All-Ireland Minor Semi-final - Monaghan v Tyrone, Kinawley, 7pm, L McDonagh.
Camogie: Senior Championship — Wexford v Dublin, Wexford venue time TBA, C Quigley (Kildare); Kilkenny v Galway, Kilkenny venue time TBA, C Egan (Cork); Cork v Limerick, Cork venue time TBA, E Browne (Tipperary)..
Monday
Munster Under-21 HC Semi-final - Cork v Clare, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 7.30pm, N Cosgrove (Tipperary), extra-time if necessary.
