After a mixed set of results in the build up to the Super Cup, Fermanagh Premiers’ manager Keith Douglas is hoping his squad can take inspiration from the 2022 Premier team and turn around their form in time for the big occasion.

Two years ago Douglas’ squad won only one of their warm-up games, but reversed their fortunes when they got to the North Coast to win the Globe for the first time in the county’s history. This year’s group have a better pre-tournament record, including a victory over County Tyrone, and Douglas is confident they will rise to the occasion.

“Over the last few weeks we have been playing better opposition in the challenge matches and we have been shipping a few goals. That is probably worrying in relation to the amount of goals we are shipping, but as we learned a few years ago it is not about what happens in the pre-season tournaments, it’s about what happens when you get up there,” said Douglas.

“Hopefully when the lads get up there they will start to improve and show a truer version of themselves, because we know the lads can do it. That 2004 group only won one preseason game but we competed well when we went up there, and hopefully the same will happen this year. They have been showing good in training so we will take it one game at a time and take it from there.”

The Premier squad will be pitched straight into a high profile fixture on day one as they face up to Manchester United for the second year in a row, before fixtures against American side Intercontinental FA and English outfit Skouted FC.

Last year Fermanagh put in a battling performance before losing out 2-0 to Premier League giants United, and Douglas is looking for this year’s team to compete in a similar fashion. 

“The one the lads are most looking forward to is the first game against Manchester United,” he acknowledged.

“If we compete like we did last year we will be happy enough as a collective group. We know Manchester United were a better team than we were, but we held out for long periods in that game and we were very unfortunate that their first goal came after an injury to Adam Armstrong when we had only 10 players on the pitch. From there we were always fighting an uphill battle. We wanted to give them a game, and we didn’t want to just sit back and think about damage limitation, so we were always likely to get caught.

"This year we will try to do what we did last year. We will keep the game as tight as we can and see what comes. The good thing this year is it’s the first game of the tournament and we can get that over and done with and look forward to the rest of the games.”

“Then we face the American team Intercontinental. They will be unknown to us, the same way we will be to them. If we go out and compete, and compete well, we will be hoping to get something out of that game.

"The same for the day three game. If we can get a win out of any of the games and go out and try to get as many points as we can, then we can go out on the Thursday and see who we are playing.”

Ahead of the tournament, the Premier squad has been forced into a late change after Jay Largo-Ellis was ruled out after breaking his collar bone in a match against County Londonderry, with Rhys McGourty called up in his place.

“It’s a massive blow for Jay because he was one of the lads who really impressed us since he came in,” admitted Douglas.

“He is a year young but he’s a tenacious wee lad and his footballing ability is very good. It is unfortunate for him, but it is something as a group of management we are used to. Callan Kelly missed out last year when he picked up an injury on holidays, and the year before that it was Jack Ovens missing out as his club wasn’t releasing him to come to the tournament.

"For us as a management team we have a bit of experience in pulling in players, and one man’s misfortune is another man’s fortune. This year it will be Rhys McGourty’s turn. He has progressed well during the training sessions, and he is getting the opportunity to go.

"It goes to show that if you are willing to make the effort to come to the sessions as a standby player you just never know what could happen.”

The Super Cup is regarded as one of the world’s top youth tournaments, and the list of tournament graduates includes five players who were in the England and Spain squads at this week’s European Championship final.

The tournament attracts scouts representing clubs from across Ireland, the United Kingdon and beyond, and Douglas is hoping some of the Fermanagh squad will grasp the opportunity.

“It’s a super opportunity for the lads west of the Bann,” he said.

“In County Fermanagh you only have one senior club representing the county at the highest level, and for the lads who are playing BKYL it would be highest level they will ever have played at. It gives them a great opportunity, and all it takes is for one man or one woman who is scouting at a game to take a liking to you and who knows what might happen.

"All you have to do is look at some of the lads from the county that have been lucky enough to get across the water or play at the highest level within the Premiership or the League of Ireland. The Super Cup is effectively a springboard for them.”

Regardless of results and performances during the tournament, Douglas admits his most important message to the 15 and 16-year-old members of his squad is to go out there and enjoy the experience.

“We will take every game as it comes and hopefully we can compete, but we want them to enjoy themselves and enjoy the experience first and foremost,” he said.

“It is a wonderful experience and that is the main thing. Go and enjoy yourselves and whatever happens after that will happen.”