Fermanagh may have hit a pretty concerning 18 wides against a limited Warwickshire side, but their manager Joe Baldwin was accentuating all the positives after his team’s eventual 1-19 to 2-05 win in Brewster Park.

Thanks to the inspirational Tom Keenan’s cracking goal, the Ernesiders eventually asserted themselves to canter to a most comprehensive victory.

The usually reliable Luca McCusker was off target from the frees but Baldwin was keen to laud his pretty impressive contribution from open play as he helped drive his side to victory in the second half.

“Yes there was a bit of concern about the 18 wides but sometimes when you play a big strong physical team like Warwickshire, they tend to drag you down to their level and concede frees.

“And we were in danger of going down to that level but despite having 11 wides in the first half there was no panic at all in our dressing-room.

“Luca, who was very good otherwise, had a bit of an off day with the frees but some of the scores we took from general play were really outstanding.

“It was one touch hurling and that is very much in us.”

But Baldwin did concede that his side “did not play well today”.

“But we still managed to score 1-19 and to win the game very comfortably, with a good spread of scores, so we are relatively pleased.”

The big turning point for Fermanagh was Tom Keenan’s cracking 50th minute goal which put the team into a 1-12 to 2-04 lead and set them firmly on the path to victory.

“Yes, he did very well, and they only scored 2-01 from play and their second goal was lucky as it was just a break that went their way, but they took it well.

“It is a work in progress for us and we look forward to Lancashire coming here in a fortnight and we also have Longford at home as well.”

When asked if the squad practice frees in training he said: “To be honest it is something they do individually on their own.

“But we can certainly set up a camera and the alignment sticks, and have a go at it this week.

“But look Luca is a fabulous hurler and he missed a couple of frees but if you look at the second half of that game he singlehandedly almost pushed forward and drove the game on with some great balls inside.

“I could play Luca at corner-back, at midfield and at inside forward and he can play anywhere, and it is a great bonus to have somebody as versatile in your team.

“Cream will also come to the top.”

And the “legend” that is John Duffy came into the game with a bang in the final quarter.

“John Duffy is just a legend and there is no question about it and he is getting faster and fitter and his experience is first class and he has immense physical strength as well as a great first touch.

“We are a work in progress but even though it is only our second game we are passed the mid-point of the season.

“So, we have a lot of work to do.”

Still there is a dual target of winning the League and regaining the Lory Meagher trophy as Baldwin also welcomed back the gifted Sean Corrigan from his travels.

“He is a great player and I felt we needed a scorer in the second half but we also have Brian Teehan and Dannan McKeogh also to come back into that team so we have plenty of strength in depth,” he concluded.