An ounce of breeding is worth a ton of feeding.

For Fermanagh’s gifted but extremely modest corner forward Sean Corrigan has pedigree in spades.

His uncle Benny Corrigan was one of the county’s most elegant players, and the stick was an extension of his arm in those 1970s and 80s summers for Lisbellaw and Fermanagh

And Sean’s uncle Aidy and father Kevin also wore the Fermanagh county jersey for many years.

So it was inevitable that Sean and his younger brother Ciaran would also don the green jersey.

Belfast-based accountant Sean (33) has just come back into the squad after a spell travelling but has lost none of that great first touch and deadly accurate finishing from play this season.

He is going for his third Lory Meagher Cup medal along with John Duffy, John Paul McGarry, Ryan Bogue and Danny Teague.

“I don’t remember seeing my father or uncles play but I just knew there was a great tradition of hurling in the family.

“I was raised with a hurl in your hand and I remember John Duffy and I playing with plastic hurls in the yard in Tattygar Primary School and moving up to U8 and U10’s in Cavanacarragh Hall under Benny McManus.

“Benny McManus would have brought 80 per cent of this panel through the ranks and has given a lifetime of service to Lisbellaw and Fermanagh hurling and it is a credit to him.

“He just does it all in the background and does not want the attention or limelight.

 “But without him, I would not be the player I am, and I would say that most of the boys would say the same.”

Sean won his first county championship with Lisbellaw in 2007 when he was 16 against Lisnasakea.

The ‘Law went on to win six more titles and hold a record 31 Fermanagh county titles.

“It’s a shame that there is no senior hurling championship in Fermanagh anymore.

“I am a Lisbellaw man, but the first time Lisbellaw is beaten in a Fermanagh county final I will still be happy as it will show that Fermanagh club hurling is in a much better place.

“I remember Enniskillen having a good team in my youth and I played with QUB a bit.”

Sean and younger brother Ciaran (who was also on the Fermanagh football panel but is currently travelling) built that competitiveness seen today during their youth.

“He is five years younger than me but there was great rivalry with us in the hurling growing up.

“I am sure it was the same with the Duffy’s and the McGarry’s and all these other hurling families.”

He added: “Lisbellaw have a very proud tradition and I have always played with them apart from a few years in Vancouver where the standard was brilliant with hurlers from all over Ireland about four years ago.

“It brought my game on a good bit.”

Corrigan has been very accurate from play and is pleased to be going for his third Lory Meagher medal.

“Yes, it would be great but it will only mean something if we win it.

“We have lost a few finals in my time, and you lose more than you win.”

“It is not so much even about winning the Lory Meagher it’s more about getting back up to the Nickey Rackard Cup.

“We had 10 games in the higher level last year and we lost seven of them by one score so the driving force is to get back to that level and turn those defeats into victories.”

When asked about Fermanagh’s slow start against Longford, he said: “It is not the best way to go at half-time nine or 10 points down and that is the second time we have done that, and our full focus will be on trying to start better and you will not always be able to overhaul the deficit.

“You would rather the opposite where you build up a lead instead.”

So will Croke Park suit Fermanagh’s style of play?

“You would think so especially if it's dry as it is a long and wide pitch as well.

“But we have a great forward line and the competition for places is savage.

“John Paul McGarry, Danny Teague and Cahir McManus, who is an extremely big talent all came on and made a big difference for us.

“I am looking over my shoulder all the time but it is a squad game now and you don’t win anything with just 15 players these days.

“Other players like Ronan McGurn and Thomas Burns are driving the standards in training.”

So, what can Fermanagh do about the immense threat of Longford’s Tipperary ace Cian D’Arcy?

“To be honest it comes down to the lads out the field to keep pressure on the ball coming in because in hurling if a good forward gets good ball he is basically unstoppable and you have to stop quality ball going into him.

“Yes, he is a quality operator but hopefully we can outscore him on the day.”

But one thing Fermanagh do not lack is passion and commitment which makes them a mirror image of team manager Joe Baldwin.

“It is great to have the boys from Belleek, Belnaleck, Kinawley and Roslea involved as it gives it more of a county feel.”

Sean is living in Belfast and makes the trip home three times a week but he hopes he will get to play with his younger brother again before he hangs up the hurl.

“I know myself that I am in the twilight of my career, but it would be great to have Ciaran back.

“But you have to travel and broaden your horizons and you get plenty of GAA there as well so you are not going away from the game.”

And, Corrigan admits that the current crop of hurlers are the most skilful to ever represent the county.

“I watch a lot of hurling all over Ulster and Ireland and the likes of Luca McCusker and Caolan Duffy could perform on any team in Ulster.

“And Brian Teehan brings a freshness and great pace to the panel and we are happy to have him.”

When asked what another Lory Meagher medal would mean to him, he said: “It would be great, but it is more about getting back up to the Nickey Rackard level as it is what the boys deserve.”

He would not say but Sean Corrigan deserves it too in spades!