Fermanagh forward Eimear Smyth admits that they used the hurt of last year’s final defeat to Louth as a motivating factor as they went one better this year to secure the All Ireland Junior title with victory over Wicklow on Saturday.

And the Derrygonnelly sharp-shooter, who finished as top scorer with 1-05, is relishing the prospect of playing Intermediate football in 2021.

“We used last year as a motivating factor over the last season.

“We’re just delighted, there was a lot of hard work put in over the lockdown period and it is brilliant to get over the line and we are now looking forward to playing Intermediate Championship next year.

“I think we have a really good group. There is a few girls like Sarah Jane Jones, Cadhla Bogue, Shanna Cassidy who came in and they have great potential and we will be looking to build on it for the Intermediate Championship,” she commented.

Fermanagh got off to the perfect start on Saturday with a quickfire 1-01 which Smyth feels helped settle them into the game.

“We had targeted that and we built on it from the Limerick game. We knew we could get a quick start, and thankfully the girls were very alive to it and Roisin McDonald had a lovely palm in after great work by the girls.

“To get scores on the board that early really settles you into the match and gets you going for the game,” she said.

She also believes that Fermanagh’s attitude was key when Wicklow gained the upperhand early in the second half.

“Wicklow are a super team and you seen that here today. We knew they would get purple patches and it was just how we responded to them and credit to the girls when they pulled us back we went down and were able to get a score.

“It shows you the attitude of the girls, it’s a never say die attitude,” she added.

With the game in the melting pot it was the Harps attacker who came up with a crucial goal that gave Fermanagh a cushion to see them through to the win.

“The goal was probably more out of anger than anything else, I was probably not having the best game,” she laughed.

“Jo popped me the ball over and thankfully it went in the net. I thank that settled us again and came at a good time for us because they were a player down and we really needed it.”

There was relief though when the hooter eventually sounded as Wicklow were pushing forward in search of an equalising goal.

“Smurf pulled off a great save and then they were piling on the pressure but we held them out and thankfully the hooter came,” said Emear.