Fermanagh U17s will take on Down in the Ulster U17 Championship at Brewster Park on Saturday (12noon) and coach Sean Bradley believes that his side are more than capable of progressing through to the next round of the competition.

This is the first outing for the U17 Championship which will replace the minor championship next season and Bradley is pleased with the squad he has at his disposal.

“We would have a good group of players and they have worked hard,” said Bradley.

“Things have been a bit fragmented for us in that we have had eight boys playing for the minors but the other side of that is that those boys have developed well playing at that level and it has also helped that the two squads have been training together at times.

“Those eight players are now just focusing on the U17s and we would be pleased with the effort that everybody has put in,” said Bradley.

Given that a number of key players were involved with the minors, it was a low key Ulster U17 League for Fermanagh and they will come up against a Down side who were narrowly beaten in the U17 League semi-final.

It is going to be a big test therefore for the Erne lads but it is one that Bradley feels they are capable of passing.

“Down have done really well in the league so they will be strong but I’m expecting us to put in a performance and I think we will be very competitive. Fermanagh have not won too many championship matches at underage level in recent years but hopefully the boys can go out and do that on Saturday. We have home advantage so it is a big chance for them.”

Defensively, Fermanagh will look to the likes of Luke Flanagan, Sean Cassidy, Aaron McManus and Oisin Smyth in front of goalkeeper Conor McGovern.

At midfield, Seamus Moane and Brandon Horan will hopefully give the side a solid platform and in Callum Jones, Seanie Mahon, Pol McKervey and Tom Keenan they have forwards who can punish the Mourne outfit if they can get a good supply.