‘We are in a good place’ says Baldwin as Warwickshire come to town
Allianz NHL Division 3B Final
FERMANAGH hurling manager, Joe Baldwin, was angry at the late announcement of the time and venue for their Allianz NHL Division 3B final against Warwickshire. It was only on Monday that it was all finalised and Baldwin felt it was not good enough for Fermanagh or Warwickshire who have to travel for the game.
But while all that was going on in the background and may have hampered some of the preparation, Fermanagh were able to get a challenge game and training in before the final.
Fermanagh played a very competitive challenge match against Roscommon last Sunday which ended in the Rossies winning by 1-20 to 1-17 in Tubbercurry.
“We trained in Sligo on Sunday and then played Roscommon and we will be well prepared for the final next weekend,” said Baldwin.
‘The Roscommon game was played at championship pace and was a good game of hurling well refereed.
“They won but there was very little in it and they play in Division 2B.
“We rested Ryan Bogue, John Duffy, Brian Teehan, Caolan Duffy and Danny Teague and we really used the whole squad so it was a really worthwhile exercise.”
In the final, Fermanagh come up against a team they had to work hard to beat in the league game.
Warwickshire then overcame Longford in the semi-final to set up the clash with Fermanagh
A physically Warwickshire gave Fermanagh quite an amount of trouble in the first half-found the net and the side were level on a score of 1-04 to 0-07.
But Fermanagh cantered clear in the second half where their greater fitness showed and they eventually won easily by 1-16 to 2-05 in the second half.
“Warwickshire went two periods of 25 minutes without scoring so our defence really held out well against them.
“They have brought in a new player called Kevin Mckernan who is actually from Belfast from the Sarsfields club in Belfast and I am just wondering how he qualifies for Warwickshire.
“I don’t know what his status is and he actually scored seven points yesterday against Longford so I am not questioning his legitimacy but I am not sure how a player of that calibre did not play against us the last day.
“And that is strange to say the least but UK teams can change a lot.”
On the plus side, Baldwin was happy with the way Dylan Bannon, Sean Corrigan and Sean Mchendry played very well against Roscommon.
“So we are in a good place as we try to get into championship mode.”
Baldwin has watched the video of the game where Saturday’s final opponents Warwickshire overcame Longford.
“I spoke to Adrian Moran, the Longford manager on Saturday evening and he said it was a very physical game and the quality was not great with a crossfield wind.
“Longford controlled the game for long periods but Warwickshire’s physicality told and they saw the game out in the end and won by four points.
“But it’s a final and there is never much between any teams in a final,” concluded Fermanagh manager Baldwin who is hoping his side will have booked their place in Division 3A by Sunday evening.