Despite results not going their way, Northern Ireland Regions Cup boss Harry McConkey feels the tournament was a positive experience both for his players and himself.
Western Region, which included Beragh’s Stevie Brown, lost all three games but McConkey stresses that the performance levels were good, particularly in the final two games which they were unfortunate not to take something out of.
“I think for everybody concerned, it was a positive experience,” said McConkey. 
“We were caught in the headlights a bit in the opening game against the favourites Turkey in a game we lost 2-0 but I thought we performed much better against Switzerland and Moldova. We lost those games 2-1 but as is often the case, these games were decided on small margins.
“As an overall experience you have to look at where we started from at the very beginning of the process and where we got to and I couldn’t fault the commitment and effort of the players. 
“The players will remember this experience for the rest of their lives and hopefully it will provide them with the incentive to take it a step further in the future. They now know what it takes to get to this level and I’m sure that they will be keen to get back to this stage next year when they take on the Eastern Region in the qualifiers,” he added.
McConkey believes he also learnt a lot from the campaign.
“This was the first time that the Western Region had qualified so it was a chance for me to get to know the coaches in the region better and to find out more about the training venues and facilities. I enjoyed it,” he said.
Beragh’s Brown was one of McConkey’s key men, scoring in the defeat to Switzerland with a scissors kick while he also had a goal disallowed against Moldova. 
Indeed, McConkey says that only for injuries and sickness there could have been a greater Fermanagh and Western representation.
“Stevie did very well and it was great that he was fortunate enough to show his talents on this stage. It is a pity that a few of the other Fermanagh and Western lads didn’t get that opportunity as well. Darren Teague was in the squad but had to withdraw due to injury while Frank Wallace had impressed but he picked up a calf problem. Joe Williamson also did well but he suffered from pneumonia during the build up.”