UP FOR IT…Declan McCusker
Ederney man and Fermanagh wing half back, Declan McCusker, has revealed that the mood in the camp is ‘good’ with ‘everyone looking forward to the the game’ as the big championship clash with Cavan draws closer.
The 22 year old will be making his first championship start this Sunday safer manage take their bow in the 2013 Ulster Championship.
McCusker played a half under John O’Neill in 2011 when Fermanagh went down to London and was a member of the squad last year during Peter Canavan’s first season n charge.
A regular forward for his club over the years McCusker has converted to the wing half back role and admits that he loves is new found position;
“I love playing half back and love getting forward. The way the game has gone wing half forward is almost more defensive than wing half back.”
McCusker has been in brilliant form throughout the league and has been an ever present in the half back line as Fermanagh pushed for promotion.
It wasn’t to be however and defeat to Meath in the last game scuppered any chance that the county had of climbing the ladder into division two although McCusker believes that at the start of the year people would have been happy to be in contention going into the last game;
“I suppose if you told us at the start of the year that we would be going for promotion in the last game we would have taken it. But then we get to the Meath game and we were disappointed with that result. I got sent off and few other things went against us and we didn’t get promoted. But overall I would say we were happy with the league campaign.”
Even though McCusker has been in flying form throughout the league the talented St Joseph’s player is under no illusion that things are about to get a whole lot tougher;
“I wouldn’t say I am up to the speed of county level yet because I haven’t played a full championship game and I know that the intensity and the speed of the game on Sunday will be another level but I’m looking forward to it.”
In terms of the game itself McCusker rates Cavan as favourites especially after their performance in the preliminary round;
“Cavan will be favourites after beating Armagh but we are confident that we can go and perform well on Sunday and see what happens then. I cant wait to get out there now. It will be nice to play at home in Brewster Park but Cavan will love playing there as well and they have had a lot of success there over the years with their underage teams so they will be looking forward to it too.”
There will be little to separate the two teams come the final whistle but don’t be surprised if it is a point or two from the attacking wing half back McCusker that tips the balance in the home teams favour.