Fermanagh boss Maurice McLaughlin will be hoping for some home comforts as his side collides with Barry O’Hagan’s Armagh in the first round of Section B of the Ulster U-20 championship. 

And the Cloghore, Ballyshannon native is also pleased that for the first time his team is guaranteed at least four matches which is very good for building a squad.

McLaughlin has 12 of last year’s squad which is quite a bonus in a side that is captained by Sean Conlon from Newtownbutler.

“Sean has been a real stalwart since minor level and is a very good leader on the field.

“He has been a constant last year and Jack Quinlan from Teemore and we also have Diarmuid Owens who is on the county senior panel as well.

“But this is a real hard working group and it has been very hard to pick a final squad of 24 and it is a measure of the competition that exists for places in the group.

“And it is a testimony to the efforts the boys have put in.”

Fermanagh have already played several challenge matches against Monaghan, Antrim, Longford, Leitrim and Louth and they were positive results according to the Ballyshannon publican.

“You can’t beat playing and that is where you find out where your players are really at and they were all needed as unfortunately there was no league this year.

“But luckily, we now have a round-robin championship where we are guaranteed at least four games which is a welcome development.”

Barry O’Hagan is managing Armagh and McLaughlin is keenly aware of the attributes of the ex-Armagh senior star.

“Barry has been very successful in his own right as a player first of all and is a very passionate Armagh man and has really invested a lot in underage football in Armagh over the past few years.

“Aaron O’Neill who is a younger brother of Rian O’Neill is a real threat for them and they are a big physical and we are well aware of the challenge that faces us on Saturday.

“They have been steadily improving but home advantage is a big plus and last year we played one of the best teams in the country in Derry and the year before it was a great Down team so we are glad to have this fixture at home to Armagh who will also present quite a considerable challenge.

“It is good to get two home games in the group stages and you would be hoping to capitalise on home advantage."