Fermanagh minor manager Aidan Gilroy admits that preparations for next Wednesday’s Ulster Minor Championship quarter final against Cavan in Kingspan Breffni Park have been tough.

Gilroy is in his first year in charge of the Erne minor squad and his task has been made more difficult by the fact that it is a shortened season due to Covid-19 restrictions with no league campaign to have a look at his players in competitive action.

“It has been hard, especially as this is our first year and you have a much shorter period with the players than you would have in a normal year to have trials and then get to know the players.

“Also, because there was no minor league we didn’t have the opportunity to look at lads in a competitive environment so it has been far from ideal.

“But, in saying that, we are happy with the squad we have and feel there is good quality in it,” said Gilroy.

With the league not going ahead, Fermanagh have instead played a string of challenge games.

“We have tried to get some decent challenge games in, we had Monaghan last week in Clones which is as good a preparation as you could ask for. We also had Derry on Monday night which was another good workout for the lads.

“We’ve played all the sides on the other side of the draw and it gives us an idea of where we are at.

“The challenge games have all been about trying to figure out who is best where, we have been trying lads out in different positions and hopefully we will be ready to go next week,” he added.

With last year’s minor championship only concluding last month, Fermanagh were also without seven of their squad until that was finished but Gilroy says having them back on board has lifted preparations.

“That was a huge boost, you could liken it to the club scene where you were getting your county players back.

“It gives the training an added intensity and there is more leadership around the squad.

“The unfortunate thing is that we only got them back three weeks ago and it is tough on those players as well because they are coming in from a different set up and then getting them to embrace the style that we want to play but we are getting there with it.”

Cavan will offer a stern test for Fermanagh and Gilroy is under no illusions about the task that lies ahead but the target is to come away with the win.

“It is going to be a tough test, it is a local derby but we have done a good bit of homework on Cavan.

“We know that they have quality players but hopefully we can go up there and do a smash and grab and get back down the road with the win.”

And the manager says that it is vital that the players believe that they can hold their own at this level no matter who the opponent is.

“It is about getting the lads into the mindset that they are just going out to play lads of the same age from a different county, there is nothing different about them.

“We want them to know that they belong at this level and that they can go to Breffni and be very competitive and the plan is to get to an Ulster semi-final.”

The Erne boss reports a clean bill of health ahead of Wenesday’s encounter and he feels there are a few things that Fermanagh must do if they are to book their place in the last four.

“We have to have a good hunger and a good workrate and we can’t afford to be making unforced errors while we need to be economical with the shooting opportunities that we get.

“When we have the ball we need to keep it well and when we don’t have it we need to be fighting like dogs to get it back,” he commented.