In Croke Park seven days earlier there had been tears of emotion for joint manager Seamus McCusker as the final whistle blew. In Breffni Park there was simply a smile that signified a quiet happiness at what had been a job thoroughly well done.

Fermanagh were by far the better team as they saw off the challenge of Louth in this Nicky Rackard Cup promotion relegation play off. It means that next year Fermanagh will step up a grade while Louth will drop to Lory Meagher Cup status.

McCusker made no secret of the fact he felt the game should not have been played.

“We didn’t like the rules and we played by them but I think it is something that should be looked at next year. This game really should not have been played.” The Erne men did tremendously well to get their feet back on the ground after their win last week in Croke Park and McCusker acknowledged this after the game.

“All those players deserve huge accolades for the way they kept at themselves today. They were excellent and the work they have put in during the year and all they have come through I have huge respect for them,” he said before adding.

“Last week we got the cake in the Lory Meagher Cup and this week we wanted to put the icing on it and thankfully we did that. It was a really super performance.” Fermanagh were in no mood to ease themselves into this game as they came out of the blocks fast dominating from the first whistle and McCusker revealed that the team wanted to hit the ground running; “We were right at it form the start. We had a good opening period and we actually got through for three goals but their keeper was magnificent today. It was more difficult to get through for those chances than it was in Croke Park but I still think we created a lot.” Fermanagh suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Louth earlier in the league. The Erne men were relegated to division III B but their form since then has been nothing short of brilliant.

“I was looking at my notes today. We lost five on the spin in the league. Louth beat us by 20 points in the league in February. That was four months ago and I said at the time that we would be a different team later on in the year. But it was a huge turnaround for us coming from where we were in the league to where we are now,” McCusker said before adding, “Louth met a different Fermanagh team today. Brian McLaughlin wasn’t available today and JP McGarry, our captain, was only able to play ten minutes, but it showed we had good strength in depth.

And the Erne boss is confident that if the required commitment id given that Fermanagh can make a real impact next season.

“We are up now to the Nicky Rackard and if the whole lads buy into it from the start of the season there is nothing to stop us going as far in that as we did in the Lory Meagher this year.” After a year that was filled with lots of emotion and at times hardship Fermanagh finished it on the field in real style.

This was probably their most polished performance of the season and McCusker is right. If the squad put their minds and bodies totally into next season and the preparation they will need then they can make waves in the Nicky Rackard Cup as well.