So how come a Donegal native and a man who is living in the county is managing Fermanagh as they face into the second round of the Ulster U20 championship in Ballybofey next Wednesday?

It is a question Maurice McLaughlin puts down to the geography of the townland of Cloghore that never really had any frontier when it came to playing either hurling or football.

But he does not have any mixed feelings going against his native and a county where he managed Aodh Ruadh Ballyshannon at various levels.

“No, not really and it is largely down to the unique location of where I was born just 250 yards from the Fermanagh border.

“I would support both counties equally,” he says oozing diplomacy.

“I have no qualms as I am the Fermanagh manager and I am going to go and try and do a job.”

Incidentally, both of his older brothers Liam and Gerard played senior football and hurling for Fermanagh while living in Donegal so he had good example.

And there is also another example in the famous Greene clan from Blacklion in County Cavan who were prominent Belcoo players for years.

McLaughlin and his charges were very disappointed to lose the first-round clash with Armagh in Ederney a few weeks ago.

But he is glad that his side is guaranteed at least four games in a revamped format giving them a fighting chance of reaching the semi-finals.

“We were very disappointed on the first day out against Armagh and now for the first time ever an U20 team has a chance to redeem themselves so it is not a one-off knock-out game.

“And it is a great chance to learn from the last day and more importantly to learn from the mistakes of the last day and hopefully improve.

“We would all concede collectively that we were very naïve in the first half.

“We gave the ball away too cheaply and our decision-making in that first half was not good.

“But the second half was more encouraging, and we would like to build on that 20-minute period of the second half.”

When asked about opponents Donegal he rates Shaun Paul Barrett’s boys as one of the favourites in the competition.

“They have some very gifted players in Luke McGlynn, Karl Joseph Molloy, Oisin Caulfield, Seanan Carr, Finbarr Roarty and Niall Prendeville.

“We know we will be going up against a pretty accomplished side and they will have home advantage in Ballybofey as well.

“We watched them against Cavan and they looked really impressive in the opening half.

“Cavan came back in the second half, but Donegal still won the game quite comfortably.

“It is a tough test going to Ballybofey but these are the places you want to be and it is a great thing for these guys to be still playing football in the middle of April.

“They have put in a serious effort since the start of the year, and we would be hoping to reach the knock-out stages in this competition.

“So, there are loads of incentives to perform.

“And we want to be playing the best teams in Ulster on the best pitches.”

Fermanagh take on Donegal in Ballybofey on Wednesday, March 27 at 7.30pm.