It was a case of mixed emotions at the end of the league campaign for Fermanagh and Barry Mulrone. 
He and his Fermanagh team-mates very much wanted to win the league title when they faced off against Armagh at Croke Park at the weekend. But, in the end, the Orchard men came out on top and Mulrone and company had to content themselves with the fact that the primary goal of the campaign, promotion, had been achieved. 
“We wanted to win it. There is no doubt about that. It is my fourth time playing at Croke Park and my fourth defeat and that’s not a good record obviously,” Mulrone explained before adding,
“I think most years there is a two-week break from the last league game to the final and this year it was only a week and maybe that affected us a little bit because we put so much into the Longford game. 
“We are not making excuses though and I think we had enough chances at the end there to at least have taken the game into extra time.”
Looking at the game and his team’s performance in general Mulrone said there were aspects to be pleased with and also areas where they will need to work on before the two sides clash once again in the Championship. 
“I think overall we played alright. We did have trouble with our own kick-outs at times but even though we are disappointed not to get the win I would not be too overly disappointed with the performance,” the half back stated. 
Armagh certainly seemed to have more success with the long ball than Fermanagh did on Saturday evening but Mulrone believes the Orchard men were a little bit ‘cuter’ around the middle of the field and that this cuteness aided them in defending the quick ball inside.
“They played more direct than ourselves. And they were good at slowing us down. 
“We trying to get the ball in quick but when you are fouled it gives them a chance to get bodies back behind the ball and maybe we should have been a bit cuter in that regard when they had the ball,” the Devenish man explained. 
Looking forward to the championship clash in just over six weeks time Mulrone accepts that in recent meetings Armagh have had the advantage.
“We have struggled to get over the line with them in a few games. I think we are evenly matched in that they might be physically bigger than us in a number of positions but with our mobility, I think we counter that quite well. 
“It will be another tight game but hopefully, if we can work on a few things between now and then and also with the help of home advantage we can get over the line this time.”
For the Fermanagh players, the attention for the next few weeks will shift to action with their clubs and Mulrone believes that between this and plenty of county training there is ample opportunity for players to make a stake for a championship place. 
“It is going to be a very busy time over the next few weeks between club football and training with the county.
“There is a lot of club games to be played and in training I know we will be playing a lot of football so there will be chances for players to put their hand up for a place on the team.”
There is no doubt that Fermanagh could well have a different look personnel-wise when the two sides meet in the championship at Brewster Park but after the last two clashes between the sides, the Erne men will need to find that something extra if they are to emerge with the victory and seal a place in the Ulster semi-final.