Fermanagh Manager Joe Baldwin wants another big performance from his side this Sunday against Cavan in Brewster Park as they look to secure their place in this year’s Lory Meagher Cup final.
Fermanagh secured a win over Louth last Saturday, and they know that a result this week will confirm their spot in the decider ahead of the final group game between Louth and Cavan.
Baldwin, though, is aware that there is work to be done yet if they are to progress to the decider.
“I have told the boys that there are no medals handed out for that win over Louth – it is only one game, and we have to go again on Sunday against Cavan,” he said.
Indeed, he points to Fermanagh’s near-miss last year in the competition when they looked well placed to go on and get through to the final.
“You just go back to last year; they [Fermanagh] lost out on going to Croker on score difference after a great performance against Cavan, and beating Lancashire. They then lost out on score difference after a defeat to Leitrim on the last day.
“This game is basically an All Ireland semi-final for us, and if we win it we are through to the final, so that’s the goal for this game,” he said.
“We now need to up the ante this week. We are in a good place after last week’s win, but we can’t rest on our laurels – we have to go out and perform again,” he added.
And he is expecting a tough test from the Breffnimen: “We talk about a grain of sand, and that’s all there will be between the sides. Cavan beat us in the league, and they will know the importance of this game, going forward.”
Last Saturday, Fermanagh finished with an unanswered 1-01 in added-on time to snatch the victory, and Baldwin was delighted with the character his side displayed on the day.
“To be four-down and to pull it out of the fire that way was very pleasing. It was a good performance, and the players have to take all the credit – they performed admirably, they did exactly what we asked of them.
“But I feel that there is more in this squad. Defensively, we have a bit of work to do; we were sloppy enough at times, we gave the ball away too easily at times,” said the Fermanagh boss, who admits it is a game that could have gone either way.
“It was nip and tuck; we could have lost by two, or we could have won by five or six, so we were delighted to get the win.”
And he believes that a strong squad proved crucial in getting Fermanagh over the line in the game. “ I thought our bench won the game for us. Everybody who came on made a big contribution, and that is what you want,” he said.
Baldwin says that his side will have a run-out at Brewster Park on Friday. “We are hoping to get into Brewster on Friday night to do a bit of shooting and get a feel for it, because the boys wouldn’t have hurled on it all that much,” he added.
He is also hopeful that a couple of niggles picked up in the Louth win will be cleared up ahead of the Cavan contest.
“We have picked up a few knocks, but we will assess them during the week and, hopefully, they will be good to go on Sunday,” he concluded.
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