'We are competing' says Fermanagh manager Douglas

The U16 squad conceded four second-half goals to lose to Tyrone, and let in a further four in the following game against Armagh, but Douglas believes Fermanagh were a match for both opponents for long spells of the games.

“We are competing with these teams,” he said.

“We beat Tyrone the last day and I thought we were worthy of the win that day. At half-time this week it was 0-0 before they pulled away in the second half, and then we were disappointed against Armagh. Frustrated is possibly the word for both games.

"We were in both games at half-time. Tyrone were maybe the better team in the first half and had us under pressure but we held out and we were competing with them.

"The Armagh game was very similar. In the game at half-time at 1-1 after leading the game 1-0. We had a couple of chances to go 2-0 up and then conceded a sloppy goal. There is not much of a difference between the county teams we have played so far, apart from County Down, and we still have five weeks.”

Fermanagh had beaten Tyrone 3-2 in a tournament at the start of the month, but there was to be no repeat of that victory against the home team last weekend.

After a goalless first-half, Tyrone scored early in the second period and romped to a convincing win, with Fermanagh managing a late consolation solo goal from Ethan Kavanagh after the result was beyond doubt.

Douglas felt the nature of the defeat was similar to the loss against County Down earlier in the month, with the concession of late goals giving the scoreline a one-sided look.

Action from Co. Fermanagh v Co. Tyrone the George Henderson tournament. (Image: Clive Beatty)

“In the second half, once we conceded the worrying trend was that it was similar to the Down game a few weeks ago,” he admitted.

“Once we conceded one or two goals heads started to drop and they never looked like they were going to get back into it. I know the scoreline wasn’t great, but it was mainly because when we are going a goal or two down we are becoming too easy to play against.

"We are in the process at the minute, and we are where we are. Getting the lads to communicate is massive. They are like wee mice at times and we want them to take a bit of leadership themselves.”

The second game of the competition started in positive fashion with Fermanagh taking an early lead against Armagh when Fionn Stroud’s cross was turned past his the Armagh keeper by his own defender.

Aaron Ellis then came close to doubling their lead and Ethan Byrne had an effort blocked on the goal line by a defender as Fermanagh continued to push forward. Their hopes of holding onto their lead were dented when goalkeeper Tadhg Kernaghan received an injury that forced him off after Armagh’s equaliser, and with no reserve goalkeeper available on the day, striker Callum St. Ledger had to don the gloves.

Armagh took advantage in the second half, scoring three more before a late Aaron Ellis goal for Fermanagh made it 4-2.

“We were disappointed we lost to Armagh,” admitted Douglas. “An own goal in the first half put us one up and that goal was where we want the boys to be playing.

"We want the boys to be putting the ball into dangerous areas. Get the ball down the wing and let the winger do his stuff and get the cross in and then anything can happen. When we lost Tadgh for the second half and didn’t have any sub goalkeepers it was always going to be an uphill challenge after that.”

Fermanagh will have a chance for revenge this Saturday when they face a rematch against Armagh in the Gary Bownes Memorial Cup at the Castle Park Centre, Lisnaskea.

They will also play a Lisnaskea Rovers U17 side as they continue their build-up to the Super Cup which starts on July 22.