League promotion within Fermanagh hurlers’ grasp

By Katrina Brennan

IT’S a season-defining game this Saturday in Abbottstown when Fermanagh take on Lancashire in the final round of the Allianz National Hurling League.

A win will ensure the Ernemen promotion and a place in the league final in Croke Park, but there’s to be no mention of Croker until the final whistle sounds on Saturday and Fermanagh has collected the points, says manager Joe Baldwin;

“If we win the game we go up, which was obviously the goal, and it gets you through to a league final against Louth, which I believe is going to be played in Croke Park. We’ve banned the talk of Croke Park this week because we just want to concentrate on Lancashire.”

The exiles beat Monaghan 4-20 to 0-20 the last day out with a Shane O’Brien’s hat-trick inside 14 minutes the major difference between the sides.

Last year, Fermanagh beat Lancashire 1-13 to 1-8 inthe 4th round in Brewster Park. The Erne men hit 17 wides that day as they came from behind in the second half to win.

And Baldwin is expecting another tough test from Liam Óg Knocker’s men;

“They’re a formidable side, they’ve given us trouble in the past. I know they have four players from Loughgiel playing for them and living up here, I know the calibre of player they have got.

“We’re under no illusions. They put 4-20 past Monaghan and we couldn’t do that and I just feel it’s going to be a real battle.

“They’re going to be coming over here really buoyant on the back of that win and they’ll fancy their chances,” he said.

Fermanagh have only suffered one defeat and that was against Louth in the opening round. Since then they’ve put together a run of four wins and it’s taken them to second spot and another result would cement their place in Division Three next season.

Injuries have taken their toll on Baldwin’s charges throughout the campaign so far, but the return of the talented Luca McCusker is imminent after he cracked a bone in his knee playing for Ireland. Aidan Flanagan is due back at the end of the month and if they can get Brian Teehan in the fold once again, they’ll be an even stronger proposition come championship.