"It would mean a lot" says U20 boss McLaughlin on Tier 2 final

Fermanagh manager Maurice McLaughlin will be hunting Ulster silverware on Monday night at Brewster Park when his U20 side play Down in the final of the Ulster Championship Tier 2 competition.

Fermanagh sealed their spot with a 1-16 to 0-10 victory over Antrim in Dunsilly last Monday night following a strong second-half performance as they scored 1-12 to add to their four opening half points.

Mattie McDermott’s goal put the icing on the cake for Fermanagh with boss McLaughlin acknowledging the first-half showing was far from satisfactory.

“We realised we weren’t about it in the first half, we were second to everything, we were very disappointed with that, we had a few frank words at halftime, and we asked a question of the lads and they responded,” he said.

“I mean to come out in the second half and score 1-12 to win the second half 1-12 to 0-04 tells its own story, you know, but I suppose you’d be concerned about the first half performance and as we approach next week that certainly wouldn’t be good enough.”

McLaughlin laughed as he said he wouldn’t go into “too much detail” on what was said at the break in Antrim but added it was apparent everyone in the dressing room was aware things had to be stepped up.

“The lads knew themselves you know, and having played poorly there were only two points in it, but I suppose Antrim were a bit wasteful in the first half, there could have been more in it but [we are] delighted to get a victory and to be in this second-tier final,” he continued.

All eyes are now on Monday night’s fixture, which luckily worked out at being played in Brewster Park, with a 7.30pm throw-in.

With the newly introduced Tier 2 competition, Fermanagh will have the chance to add a cup to their trophy cabinet.

“There’s no doubt that it would be very pleasing,” said McLaughlin on winning the cup.

“I said it earlier, credit to all involved in the GAA because U20’s had one game previously to this but last night was our fourth competitive game and now we’re going to have five competitive games and I mean that’s credit to everyone involved but in regards to winning it, it would mean a lot to us there’s no doubt it.”

After defeats to Armagh and Donegal, Fermanagh lost by a single point to Cavan in their last game of Section B seeing them drop into Tier 2.

Meanwhile, Down finished fourth out of five teams in Section A to go straight into next week’s final.

The Mournemen began the group with an eight-point loss to Derry, before a draw with Tyrone and a two-point defeat against Monaghan.

They ended the group with a 5-08 to 1-06 hammering of bottom side Antrim.

The Fermanagh manager is well aware of the quality Down possesses: “They were in the other side, but look, they were more than competitive, they drew with Tyrone, who were some people's favourites to win the Ulster and All-Ireland. They ran the other teams very close in it you know so we’re under no illusions with the task that faces us.”