Fermanagh captain, Declan McCusker, conceded that the game against Derry was over as a contest at half time last Saturday but said there were positives to take from the second half display of the Erne men.

10 points was the half time deficit and while the full-time difference rose to 12 points, Fermanagh plugged away in that second period during which Derry were awarded what looked like a very soft penalty.

McCusker was introduced as a half time substitute and looking back over the game said it showed the different levels Fermanagh and Derry are operating at.

“[We were] beat by a team who are at the minute unfortunately at a different level than what we are, and they showed that, in the first half especially today,” he said.

“It’s disappointing but I suppose it’s a bit of reality check of where we are. We are in the Tailteann Cup for a reason, and we will look to turn our attention to that now.”

From the outset of last Saturday’s Ulster Championship Quarter-final, Derry set out their stall as they registered their first score with 43 seconds and McCusker who was watching from the stands felt Derry looked in bullish mood.

Better second half

However, the second 35 minutes was better from Fermanagh in the captain’s opinion.

McCusker felt Fermanagh showed a desire to play right to the end: “I thought we showed good fight in the second half.

“It is probably a game we could have lost by 20 points and maybe one we would have lost by 20 points a few years ago but we never gave up, we kept fighting to the end and got those goals. We never stopped

“It’s very difficult if a team like Derry get ahead of you but I thought we battled well in the second half.

“To be honest the game was over at half time. You’re not going to turn 10 points on a team as good as Derry and how well they are structured.

“We said we wanted to go out and show a better account of ourselves in the second half. We weren’t going to die and fold, and I think we did and take some encouragement from that and move on.”

Moving on

Move on is what Fermanagh must do as focus turns to the Tailteann Cup in May.

McCusker hopes the break will re-energise the squad and give those players with injuries the chance to get them cleared up.

With a promotion secured, he hopes the side can get a run in the competition: “It’s a great tournament for us, a team at our level to go and try and win it and it will only make us better if we can go and do that.”

And he added the players will be “chomping at the bit” to force their way into the team when the Tailteann Cup begins.

“There’s a number of boys in there looking to push their way into the starting team. That’s only healthy competition for places.

“There’ll be lots of boys chomping at the bit over the next few weeks and even the boys who got taken off, some of them aren’t happy with their performance and it can only be good for us,” McCusker concluded.