LORY MEAGHER CUP FINAL

Fermanagh v Cavan

Saturday, Croke Park, 6.30pm

By Mark McGoldrick

THIS Saturday, the Erne hurlers have a chance to emulate the team of 2015 and win the Lory Meagher Cup. Facing their old foes Cavan in the decider at Croke Park, Fermanagh boss Joe Baldwin feels that there is no greater prize than what the Ernemen have within their grasp.

“We are near neighbours but rivalry isn’t recorded in a book or a DVD. Rivalry is recorded in history and come eight o’clock on Saturday evening, somebody is going to rewrite history,” he insisted.

Fermanagh’s journey to the Lory Meagher decider has been anything but plain sailing.

After a crunching defeat to Cavan in the competition just a couple of weeks ago, Baldwin and his Erne hurlers faced a tough road ahead with every game a must-win if they were to keep their final dreams alive.

They rose to the challenge and produced a superb performance to beat Monaghan in the quarter-final and book their place in the last four.

Baldwin’s side came to the fore once again on Saturday with their nine-point victory over Longford, enough to secure their place in the Lory Meagher Cup decider for the second year in-a-row having lost to Louth in 2020.

The Erne boss feels that a date in Croke Park is the just reward for his players who have shown great character and strength to overcome so many ups and downs in a short season.

“It has been confirmed that the game is live on television and that showcases everything that the boys have and it gives them a chance to express themselves on the field and showcase their talent. It didn’t really matter, with the greatest respect, if it was in Croke Park, Clones or Lisbellaw.

“We have a game to win, it is a national final at stake and we are just going to go out and do our best for Fermanagh.

“There is very little between the two teams.

“It is funny because when they actually beat us in the round robin, myself and Ollie (Bellew, Cavan manager) would know one another fairly well as we worked together in Queen’s, and Ollie put his arm around me and said, ‘Listen, these two teams will meet again’. He could foresee it and I could possibly foresee it too.”

Baldwin is unhappy about the short notice given to his team to prepare with only seven days allocated between the semi-final and final.

“I felt it could have been handled a bit better but it is sorted now,” he said. We have just got to focus on the game.”

Club hurling also felt the wrath of the decision to hold the final this Saturday with Lisbellaw due to play Middletown in the Ulster Junior final, on Saturday.

“Lisbellaw were through to a club final and we had to postpone that. There are two sides to it.”

The final, at 6.30pm, will follow the Ulster SFC final between Tyrone and Monaghan.