Since 2017, Courteney Murphy from Kinawley has been a rock at the heart of the Fermanagh defence, alternating between full-back and centre-back when she won an All-Ireland Junior title in the green jersey of the Erne County. 

The affable and eloquent physiotherapist was captain when Fermanagh won another title in 2020 but Murphy was unable to play due to a hand injury.

Four years on, the Kinawley woman, who has seven Fermanagh county championship medals, is vice-captain and hoping for glory this weekend as is captain Shannon McQuade.

For, a win over Louth would be extra special for Murphy after the disappointment of not being able to share in the admittedly muted celebrations in Parnell Park, Dublin as Covid-19 raged over the land in 2020.

“I made my debut in 2017 and my first game was against Derry in the NFL in Brewster Park and that was a big day and it was a nice place to start.

“And of course we beat Derry that same year in the All-Ireland final which was even better.

“So it was a successful start for me and we beat them after a replay in Clones.”

Murphy was a youthful full-back on that occasion.

But she has also gained valuable experience with her phenomenally successful home club of Kinawley which has also helped her in her stellar county career.

“We have been very lucky and we have won six county titles in a row in the past six years and we are definitely making the most of it and enjoying that success and it has been good to bring the same group of girls into the county set up.”

For, Kinawley have nine players on the county squad which is quite a remarkable feat.

“I was captain in 2020 when Fermanagh won the All-Ireland title but I broke my hand in the Qualifier match and had to get surgery and I missed out.

“It was a Covid year and we didn’t have any fans and the game was in Parnell Park so while there were no real celebrations, it was great to win.”

Fermanagh lost to Louth in the same final 2019 so “we owe them one" said Murphy.

Fermanagh are managed this year by the mercurial, versatile ex-Antrim dual star CJ McGourty and he “brings a lot of energy".

“He has the experience of being a player himself and having that insight is definitely a great addition for us to have and he knows what it is like to be in our position.

“And he knows when the right time is to calm things down or when to bring a bit of excitement or to rile us up and he has been very good this year.

“New management is always good as you get that bit of freshness and we definitely have been enjoying it so far and he has the experience also of winning himself at All-Ireland club level.

“It is massive to have that in the changing room with us.”

Fermanagh had quite a battle with Limerick in the semi-final-winning by 2-12 to 2-10 which was a real test for Courteney and her team.

“We have only really had two knock-out games so far - the league semi-final which we disappointingly lost to Carlow by a point and the Limerick game.

“We regrouped for the championship and thankfully are unbeaten so far.

“Limerick was a really tough test which will bring us on and different players stood up at different times.

“We are hoping to carry that momentum into the final.”

But this Louth team are a bit of an unknown for Murphy and Co.

“They are a new experience for us this year as we didn’t play them in the league and we have not played them in the championship either so it is a new challenge for us.

“And I think it is a welcome challenge and brings a bit of freshness.

“But we did play them in 2019 when we lost in the All-Ireland final and they have top players in Kate Flood and Niamh Rice in the forward line.

“But all across the field, Louth bring a physicality that we might not have seen so far this year, so it will definitely be a tough game.”

But Fermanagh have a free-scoring forward line with a healthy “spread of scorers”.

“If a defence is marking Eimear Smyth out of it any of the other five forwards are capable of taking up the scoring mantle.

“There is a great range of scorers which is great for us as we can bring different players into the game at different times.

“And we have been doing that all year and Eimear has been outstanding all year and her scoring record has been just great.

“But she is a really intelligent player and is very good at bringing other players into the game as well.”

This will be Murphy's third time in Croke Park and a lot of the rest of the team have experience of the venue already, so "there should be no surprises".

“Hopefully that past experience will stand to us and we can focus on the game rather than being overawed by the occasion".

She added: “This team has been around for quite a while and we have been playing together for a long time which helps on the field and we have a very good bond off the field which helps massively and when you are enjoying your football you tend to play better football.”