By Katrina Brennan

SUNDAY was not the first time 23-year-old Caolan Duffy climbed the Hogan steps to collect a winners medal, it was his third, having won the 2021 Lory Meagher and a Hogan Cup with St Michael’s in 2019.

Sunday’s victory was “the best so far” though, said the Lisbellaw hurler.

“It was unbelievable. I’ve won it before but yesterday (Sunday) it felt different. It feels like we’re going somewhere if that makes sense? It felt nice. Out of all the things I’ve won so far, I think that felt the best.

“It was genuinely the first time after a game where I felt such a relief and such a buzz because I’ve won a few things in Croker now, football and hurling, and it just felt so unbelievable.”

Caolan hit a sublime point in the first half and his twin brother Ciarán came up from corner back to split the posts, while older brother John picked off two points from play.

It was a special day for the family and memories they’ll treasure together;

“It’s nice having the two brothers there as well. Having Ciarán there and having him play well, it means so much more because I was nearly more nervous for him than I was for me. So just winning it with him beside me was unbelievable – it’s hard to describe,” said the Erne midfielder.

The Duffy family are synonymous with Fermanagh hurling and on Sunday all three had a big impact on the outcome.

Caolan is currently doing a PGCE in Liverpool and made many trips back and forth this season and he admitted at times it has been challenging;

“It’s been a tough enough year for myself because I’m always in Liverpool and I couldn’t really get the rhythm going like I like to, but I think I finally got to where I want to be playing.

“I was absolutely wrecked some days,” admitted Duffy, before quickly adding, “It’s all worth it. I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else but be putting on a Fermanagh top.

“It’s very easy when you’re playing with them boys around you. Some of the players are unbelievable. You look forward and you see Luca (McCusker) and behind you and there’s Bogie (Ryan Bogue), so life is very easy in the middle of the park when you’ve players around you like that there.”

As the final whistle sounded, Duffy threw his arms in the air and you could see his joy and that delight extended to the supporters, who he hailed as the ‘most passionate’ in the country;

“I know we don’t have the most supporters in the world but I genuinely do feel like they are the most passionate supporters in the country. I just think they’re unbelievable.

“Even last night (Sunday) they were coming up to you and they’re so positive. Everyone is so positive now in Fermanagh. It’s not just Lisbellaw now, it’s so many clubs. It’s so fresh, it’s actually so nice.”