The lack of an internal Fermanagh hurling championship is a big obstacle for Lisbellaw every year in Ulster.

And it is around seven weeks since the Law’s last competitive match which was the Tyrone SHL final which they narrowly lost to Carrickmore- after winning the Armagh League earlier in the year.

And while disappointed Lisbellaw manager Ciaran McTeague lauded Swatragh as the better team on the day, he called for better competition for his club in preparation for the Ulster club championship.

“Swatragh were the better team, but they have had good competitive games up until recently and that is a great way of staying sharp," he said.

“We have not had a competitive match for several weeks and challenge matches are just not the same.

“We had a long break before this game and that is not good preparation, but we could not fault the effort of the lads who always give it 100 per cent and we were missing Rory Porteous and Luca McCusker who were both injured and Danny Teague who was suspended.

McTeague added: “We badly need internal competition, and it would be great to see the likes of Belleek coming through in a few years to give us a battle like they did in the past.

“It is badly needed.”

The manager added that Swatragh’s two goals came at very crucial times in the game.
“We just could not respond and especially not to the second one and they came within four minutes of each other.

“Swatragh are a hard-working team and we thought we could match them, but the goals were a real sucker punch and gave them great momentum.

"We just didn’t click for some reason, but we will go again.”

“They were better on the day and Sean Duffy owes nobody anything for what he has done for club and county and that fluffed penalty was a freak.

“Any other day he buries it. We put in JP McGarry inside for the second half, but Swatragh really kept our forwards at bay.

“We had to work very hard for our scores and they got theirs a bit easier. 

McTeague said it was a most successful season as many of the ‘Law players were on the Fermanagh side that won this year’s Lory Meagher Cup.

“There are too many good players in this county for hurling not to be looked after and it just has to be driven on.”

And he saluted the efforts of Belleek in reviving hurling in an area that was once a stronghold for a club that has five county championships and five league titles.

“It is great to see Belleek coming on but it is a pity they got no backing from the county board last week when they could not have all their players on board for the game against Sean Treacy’s in Belleek.

“But if hurling gets the right support in the county, it will be in a great spot.

“It would be great if we could have a Lisbellaw and Belleek county final.”