By Jonathan Hogan

FERMANAGH u-20 manager Maurice McLaughlin knows his side faces a stern test in this year’s Ulster Championship but insists they are relishing the challenge ahead.

The draw has placed Fermanagh in a fiercely competitive Section A alongside Donegal, Tyrone, Antrim, and Down, with their opening fixtures pitting them against two of the province’s heavyweights.

“Ulster’s very competitive, and especially at u-20 level, it has been historically tight over the last number of years,” said the Ballyshannon man, now in his fifth year in charge.

“Whatever group you end up in, you’re going to get tough draws. From our perspective, having Donegal (March 19) up first and then Tyrone (March 26), I suppose they’d be perceived as being two of the stronger teams in it. It’s a tough two openers, but we relish the challenge too.”

The new round-robin format sees Fermanagh play all four of their group opponents once, with the top team in each group progressing to the semi-finals and the second and third place teams advancing into two quarter-finals.

McLaughlin’s side has prior experience against Antrim and Down, having faced them in last year’s secondary competition.

“Antrim and Down are in there as well, and we played both of them last year, beating Antrim and losing out to Down by a point, so we’re really looking forward to the competition,” he said.

Beyond the draw itself, McLaughlin highlighted the excitement within his squad, especially with new rules in place and a highly anticipated home opener under the lights at Brewster Park.

“The lads are looking forward, especially to getting onto the field and getting stuck into it with these new rules and everything,” he said. “No matter when these lads pull on the county jersey, it’s exciting, and especially to get a home tie against a neighbouring county, under the lights – it’s a big Ulster Championship night.”

Preparations have been ramping up, with several challenge matches already played, and a squad that is gradually returning to full strength after early injury setbacks.

“We will have a few more challenge games and we’ve had a couple already, with Leitrim and Louth,” said the manager.

We had a fair few injuries early on, but everybody seems to be getting back now, so we’ll be hopeful to be full strength come the 19th (March),” McLaughlin explained.

Fermanagh will be looking to their more experienced campaigners for leadership, with 14 players returning from last year’s squad, including joint-captains Shaun McCarron (Ederney) and Cian O’Brien (Devenish).

“I think from last year’s squad we have 14, and we’re hoping the experience of them being in with us, and some of them have for the last few years, will stand to them,” he said.

With a difficult group ahead and only three of the five teams progressing into the knockout rounds, Fermanagh will need to hit the ground running. But McLaughlin’s side won’t be backing down from the challenge.