Fermanagh manager Emmet Curry is hoping that his side can push on for a league semi-final spot after his young charges inflicted a first defeat of the campaign on Louth in Derrygonnelly on Sunday.
Fermanagh have followed their opening day loss to Antrim with back to back wins over Derry and Louth and Curry feels that Sunday’s performance was the best yet this season.
“They played as a team and it was the best that we have played so far in the league. It was a really tough day for football with heavy hailstones and all the rest but it was a really good team performance which was very pleasing,” he said.
Curry had lost Shauna Hamilton and Lisa Maguire through injury before the game and the manager admits that it was a game that he was worried about beforehand.
“We had Shauna Hamilton and Lisa Maguire out and Louth had come here having won their last two games and were sitting joint top so it was a big win for us. I was wary going into the game given that we have lost so many players but they went out and produced a top class performance,” he added.
Indeed, Fermanagh were forced into naming four 17 year olds in their starting line up but Curry was delighted with the contribution that the quartet made on the day.
“I have to say, the young ones all did well. We had four 17 year olds starting in Eimear Smyth who scored 2-04, Blaithín Bogue, Ciara Clarke and Cliodhna McElroy and they all stood up really well, I was delighted with them.
“On top of that, Donna Owens did well in goals making two good saves, Courtney Murphy had a great game at full back and Ashling Maguire was also great at centre half back. I also thought Danielle Maguire was brilliant at midfield. They all played well,” said Curry.
Fermanagh had looked to be in control of matters when they led 2-07 to 0-05 but a Louth goal closed that gap back to two. Fermanagh though found the perfect response as Smyth netted her second goal and they were able to see it out from there.
“They got it back to two points with a goal but we came straight back down the field though after that and got a goal of our own in response. It put us five points ahead again and five points is hard to come back from,” he added.
Curry is now hoping that Fermanagh can push on and he is targeting a place in the league semi-finals.
“They have responded well to losing the opening game and you can see the side are improving week on week. That’s us up into the top four and hopefully we can continue to push on from here. 
“Ideally you would like to finish top but if we can get second or third we would be happy,” he commented.
Fermanagh have no game this week and next up is a meeting with Carlow at home on Sunday February 25, Carlow having recorded their first victory of the campaign with a win over Derry last weekend.
Curry says that they will use this free week to work on fitness ahead of the run in to the league programme.
“We have no game this week and then it’s home to Carlow in our next game and it will give us a chance to get the girls that wee bit fitter, we’ll get six sessions in during that time. Hopefully that will stand to us over the rest of the league,” he said.