Fermanagh manager Sean Duffy accepts that the pressure is on for his side this Saturday as they get ready to take on Leitrim in their first game in the Lory Meagher Cup at Brewster Park.

Duffy has made no secret that Fermanagh’s focus from the start of the year has been on this competition and he knows that they have to make sure and get off to a winning start on Saturday.

“We’ve not hidden the fact that we have targeted the Lory Meagher Cup and in particular this opening game against Leitrim since the start of the year so now we have to go out and deliver. We didn’t really focus on the league, we tried out different things as we had players missing, and this game on Saturday was always in our minds. The boys know that there is pressure on them now to go on and get the win but I believe that they will thrive in it,” he stated.

Fermanagh’s league campaign never really got going and they shipped a heavy defeat to Tyrone in the Ulster Shield recently but Duffy has a firm belief that his players will produce their best in the Lory Meagher.

“The boys have really worked hard in training and we’ll be looking to get the performance right and hopefully if we get that then we will get the result that we want. I’m confident that the boys will perform on Saturday,” he added.

With the first game being at home, Duffy knows its importance to their overall campaign.

“You want to start with a win, especially when it is at home, and we know that if we lose then we will be in trouble heading to play Lancashire next week.

“Also a win in the opening game would give us confidence going forward over the rest of the competition,” said Duffy.

The Lancashire game will be followed by a home game against Warwickshire, an away game against Sligo before concluding with a home tie against Cavan. The top two teams will then contest the final.

Duffy’s squad has received a major boost with the news that Ciaran Corrigan has rejoined the panel having been involved with the footballers during the league.

The Sigerson Cup winner with St. Mary’s is a talented player and will be very valuable to Fermanagh in the Lory Meagher.

Doubts still remain over the availability of injured duo John Duffy and Declan McGarry but Duffy is hoping that other than that he has a clean bill of health for Saturday’s crunch encounter.