By Niall Gartland

FERMANAGH u-20 boss Maurice McLaughlin finds it hard to understand why they’ve been completely written off by the bookies ahead of Friday evening’s Ulster Championship semi-final against Down.

Conor Laverty’s Down team have been made 110 favourites after they tore Cavan to shreds in their quarter-final clash, but it’s not as if Fermanagh aren’t deserving of their place in the semi-final.

They defeated Antrim with plenty to spare in their championship opener, and it’s also worth noting that they have plenty of Hogan Cup winners in their ranks, while Sean McNally and Josh Largo Ellis lined out for the senior intercounty team in their recent defeat to Monaghan.

With that in mind, it is easy to understand why their no-hopers tag is something that irritates McLaughlin.

“It was quoted to me that Down are 110 favourites, and I’d like to think it’s a bit closer than that. Any Down team will run amok when they get a headstart on you, but we have a serious belief in our squad and the ability to deliver a performance on the night.

“It’ll be interesting, Down gave a great performance and the game was effectively over by half time, but I’d like to feel if we perform to the level we’re capable of, we’ll show that we’re not just 101 shots.”

McLaughlin’s been here before; he’s also the county’s u-17 manager, and they came perilously close to upsetting the odds in their Ulster Championship semi-final clash against Monaghan a fortnight ago. He said it was their firm belief that the u-17s could win an Ulster title, and he’s parachuted six of those players into the u-20 team in the wake of their narrow defeat to the Farney.

“I’ve been fortunate to work with those lads for a few years, I had them at u-16 level as well. There’s no doubts about their ability, and those lads coming into the u-20 team gave the squad a bit of a lift, there’s no doubt about it.”

While Fermanagh is a small county in terms of population, McLaughlin also says they have great support, something he says the players greatly appreciate.

“I’ve been fortunate to be involved for a few years in Fermaagh and before that with club teams.

“There’s a serious appetite for success, they’re great supporters and grasp onto any sign of success. The lads feed off that, it gives them a lift.”