Fermanagh Manager Joe Baldwin was pleased to see his side progress in the Conor McGurk Cup as they eased past Cavan at Breffni Park 3G on Tuesday night.

First and foremost, Baldwin was happy to get a win in the competition which sees Fermanagh set up a quarter final encounter against Ulster University on Saturday at Jordanstown.

“We came down here to get a win; I gave the boys a wee challenge when we got here – we hadn’t actually won a Conor McGurk Cup game in my time with Fermanagh in the competition, so that was the goal, just to try and get a victory and move on to the next stage,” he said.

Fermanagh played against a strong breeze in the first half and having went in a point ahead at half time, they went on to control matters in the second period.

“Conditions were very poor,” said Baldwin. “We set up in a way that we didn’t want to concede a goal and we felt that if we didn’t concede a goal, that we would have a really good chance.

“You saw the adaptability that we have. In the first half you have to give credit to Francie McBrien and Odhran Johnston for their physical fitness and the way they can run the ball through the hand and break the line and put them on the back foot.

“In the second half, we tried to change the tactics and move the ball a wee bit longer as we felt there were goal opportunities there. We set them a target of 2-18 or 2-19, so to score 3-17, we are happy with that.

“Look, there were aspects of the play that were very, very good and there were aspects of the play that at this time of the year require a lot more work, but it is a work in progress. It’s only early doors and I’m reasonably happy with what I saw.”

Baldwin also had praise for the excellent Danny Teague.

“Man of The Match for me was Danny Teague – he was very disciplined and he led the line and himself and Francie McBrien in the half back line is a platform to build on, going forward,” he added.

Fermanagh did finish the game with 14 players after substitute John Paul McGarry was dismissed, but Baldwin feels that the player doesn’t get the protection he deserves at times.

“I was disappointed that John Paul got a Red Card; I thought he was unlucky. Just because he is 6’5”, it doesn’t mean that players are allowed to hang on to him, and for me that’s what happened tonight,” he added.

Next up for Fermanagh is a last eight meeting with Ulster University on Saturday, and Baldwin is expecting a much stiffer challenge.

“Jordanstown will be a different kettle of fish; they are laden with county players and we’ll know better about where we are at, after that,” he said.

“It actually gives us an opportunity to look at Danann [McKeogh]. He wasn’t able to be here tonight but he should be able to play for the University on Saturday and Luca [McCusker] will go across and play for his college team.

“It is all about games at this time of the year, and certainly against the elements there tonight we stood up and it will build a bit of confidence, going forward,” he concluded.