It’s a real crunch clash between Fermanagh and Longford this weekend as they lock horns to see who will qualify for the NHL Division 3B final.

Fermanagh limped to a 1-13 to 1-08 win over a game Lancashire side while an impressive Longford had a fine win over Leitrim on a score of 2-15 to 1-07.

Had Leitrim won, Fermanagh would have been through to the decider, but the Longford victory means that there will be loads to play for next Saturday in Brewster Park.

Lancashire put it up to wasteful Fermanagh in the opening wind-assisted half and led by 1-05 to 0-04 before the Erne county upped their game after the break with a well-taken Brian Teehan goal crucial to this choppy victory.

“So this week we really have to prepare well against Longford, because you don’t really want to be playing in a semi-final as it is all about getting to the final, so it is winner takes all next week,” said Fermanagh manager, Joe Baldwin.

Baldwin knows “everything” about Longford having been involved with the Leinster men in the past but admits that Longford know quite a bit about Fermanagh as well.

“Reuben Murray, Johnny Casey and Paddy Mulally are all top-class players but really there will be no secrets between the counties and there will be no quarter asked for or given and it will be a really tough game on Saturday.

“We will both be trying our best to qualify for the League final.”

Baldwin added that Longford are quite similar to Fermanagh in terms of physique and are capable of moving the ball quickly and they have a nice blend of youth and experience.

“There is never much between us and there has always been only a few scores between us so I am expecting a real battle.”

The plethora of wides is a concern for Joe, but he still believes that someday some team that they are playing will get some hiding if those chances go over.

“We will really look at it this week and look at the video and see what is the reason why they were not going over and particularly the frees and we will work on it this week.

“But I am in no panic whatsoever.”

Luca McCusker has a new role as a sweeper along with Ryan Bogue and McCusker got a vital point which galvanised the team to push on for victory.

Baldwin singled out the quality of the Erne defence who have been very consistent this season.

“They went through a period today where they did not score for 25 minutes, and they only scored three points in the second half which is a testament to our stout defending.

“The last day Warwickshire only scored 1-01 from play in the second half.

“So good results are built from sound defensive strategies and our defence is the best in the league so far and we just need to keep working on our conversion rate up front and I have no doubt that it will come.”

He added: “We are at the business end of the season and trophies are up for grabs and you can see the silverware gleaming, so it really comes to down really wanting it.

“People say you use the NHL as preparation for the championship but it’s no secret that we want to win both.

“There is no better way of preparing for the championship than to collect silverware en route.

“The game against Longford will be our toughest game to date and both of us will have an eye on the championship and try and keep some of our gunpowder dry.

“But at the end of the day, we both want to win on Saturday.”