Declan McCusker says Fermanagh were shocked by the extent Derry went after them in their Ulster quarter-final defeat - and he fancies the Oak Leaf county to land back to back Anglo-Celt Cups on Sunday.
McCusker's Erne men plundered two goals from high balls off full back Che Cullen but were well beaten by Rory Gallagher’s side.
This Sunday, Fermanagh open their Tailteann Cup campaign at home to Wexford, while later that afternoon Derry and Armagh face off in the Ulster final.
Armagh are looking for a first Anglo-Celt Cup in a decade and a half (2008), while Derry are targeting just the second back to back Ulster success in their history (1975/76).
It could well prove to be the biggest game both sides play all season.
Fermanagh skipper McCusker says Derry are “on a different level” and gave Fermanagh “serious lessons.”
The Ederney man continued: “I suppose one of the biggest shocks was the way they pushed 15 forward - including the keeper (Odhran Lynch).
“We had a fair idea they would probably push up but I didn't think they'd go that far.
“Maybe players on the pitch didn't respond to it quick enough and maybe marked too many men out wide.
“They weren't giving us a sweeper. You weren't going to get a sweeper the way they were playing, but I think we still could have played smarter and maybe changed one or two things on the pitch.
“The players will learn from that. We'll know in the Tailteann Cup that maybe some teams will come with the unexpected and maybe other teams will try to copy Derry's system and things.
“That would be one thing.
“Early on I think we had a couple of stupid shots. Especially when you're the underdog, you need to try to control the ball better and make sure that your shot is an 80 percent shot in general play.
“Especially when you're playing those bigger teams you can't afford to take pot-shots. There's lots of learnings we'll take from it.”
McCusker fancies Derry to get the job done: “I think they'll beat Armagh. Look it, it'll be tight.
“I think Armagh have serious threats and the high ball and stuff that might expose Derry a wee bit.
“I don't know, but I think Derry will win it.”
Fermanagh won promotion this year and will play in Division 2 in 2024.
McCusker views the Tailteann Cup, which guarantees every side three matches, as valuable preparation to get ready for the step up in standard next Spring.
The Erne men are also targeting a rare piece of silverware.
“Fermanagh haven't lifted a trophy since the 1997 McKenna Cup,” said McCusker.
“We obviously don't have a history of winning things so to win any trophy with Fermanagh - to lift a trophy in Croke Park - would be brilliant.
“It would be huge for all the younger ones in the county as well.
“We have had relative success. In 2004 we got to the All-Ireland semi-final and in 2008 we got to the Ulster Final.
“In 2015 we got to the (All-Ireland) quarter-final and then 2018 (Ulster final).
“I don't know if you'd call them successful seasons, but there’s always been seasons that sort of gave the county a big boost.
“So to actually go and win a trophy would be massive. That's the plan. That's what we're hoping to do.”
McCusker says the longer Fermanagh can keep Aussie rules target, Ultan Kelm at home the better. Injury hit Kelm’s chances of a professional career, but he's returned stronger than ever and could yet return to Australia.
“I think he's (Kelm) gone to a new level this year, in terms of his football ability,” said McCusker.
“Physically, he's always been a freak and that's one of the reasons it looked like he was going to Australia.
“Maybe that will happen for him down the line, but at the minute the longer he stays in Ireland the better it is for Fermanagh.”
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