If you want a job done then ask a busy man!
For newly re-appointed Fermanagh GAA U20 boss Maurice McLaughlin is also manager of his home club of Aodh Ruadh, Ballyshannon.
Ballyshannon publican, McLaughlin took over the club a few weeks ago, after previous manager Conor Cunningham stood down as the club was relegated to Division Two in the Donegal SFL.
But last Sunday he had a winning championship debut in Donegal when his charges beat Downings in an entertaining affair by 1-13 to 0-14.
The Cloghore native is in his fifth year with the Fermanagh U20s having previously managed the U17s and is looking forward to the challenge of 2025.
But he does not see any crossover between managing a senior club in his native Donegal and an inter-county team in Fermanagh.
“I don’t think I am unique in this and anyway the Donegal senior football championship finals are not until October and we will not be doing anything with the U20s until the very end of the year although we have sent and S&C programme to all the lads.”
Reflecting on the past season, McLaughlin said there were some near misses.
“Yes, we had a bad first-half against Armagh and improved in the second half.
“Donegal were just too strong, but I thought we were very unlucky not to beat Cavan.
“We were then in the B competition and beat Antrim away and really should have beaten Down in the Ulster final but we just did not take our chances in Brewster Park.
“But the management and the 15 lads from last year’s panel and eight of last year’s starters will take learnings from that and we are looking forward to the next campaign.
McLaughlin added: “Sometimes in Fermanagh we tend to talk ourselves down unnecessarily and since I took over the minors back in 2018 I have been trying to get rid of that mentality.
“On our day we are as good if not better than most teams in the Province, and we have the footballers as well.
“We have a number of players who are eligible again next year and that defeat to Down will be a learning curve for them and for the rest of us.
“And it has been a great learning curve for the management as well and we are very well looked after by the county board.”
Meanwhile McLaughlin has a senior championship clash between Aodh Ruadh and Dungloe on Saturday.
No rest for a busy man.
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