By Colm Bradley

How does that Christy Moore song start? 'Twas in the year of 88 in the lovely month of June.......'

That's right, good old Joxer went to Stuttgart. Yes, that was the year, twenty years ago, but the last thing on my mind was a Scotch man scoring for Ireland against England. No, it was the Fermanagh minors all the way for me and St Molaise Park was the real ampitheratre of action.

That year the big brother who was playing for the county minors and used to let me tag along to training; I was only about 8. I used to stand behind the goals when the team was doing shooting practice and size five's would rain down like bombs from a B-52. Off I would scamper after the bouncing ball and with all my might hoof it back out the field. Getting it past the 21 was a major achievement.

While the rest of the country was going mad for Jack's army my footballing world revolved around Fermanagh minors. Forget Frank Stapelton and Ronnie Whelan, Raymond Moffat was my hero! The flame haired Lisnaskea Emmett's attacker was in the corner for Fermanagh minors that year and he was my favourite player.

Even at that age I knew I was destined for a life at top of the left so it was always corner forwards who I favoured. Some might say that it was Raymie's economy of movement which caught my eye and that perhaps I have modelled my game on his but that would be doing a huge disservice to the 91 Senior Championship winner. Before his knees gave up he was a sprightly figure in the Lisnaskea attack.

No, it was more to do with the fact that Raymie didn't seem to miss much when in front of the posts.

Although it also helped that he gave me his steak after a league game when the kitchen had ran out of sirloins. 'Can't have the cub going hungry,' he said. I still think he was holding out for a fillet myself, it never came though and he had to make do with a plate of spuds and veg instead. He polished it off mind you!

All that was then though and how times have changed. Back then players trained 'just' twice a week. Shooting practice involved twenty boys swinging shots from all angles with not a cone in sight. A physiologist was something that you might see on an American TV show but certainly not in the dressing room after training. A tracksuit or bag was received with joyous wonder and thanks.

Back then players trained 'just' twice a week. Shooting practice involved twenty boys swinging shots from all angles with not a cone in sight. A physiologist was something that you might see on an American TV show but certainly not in the dressing room after training.

Back then the weekend bonding trip had not been heard up. It was still known as a piss up! Things were very different for a Fermanagh footballer in 88. They and we were more innocent then, and the whipping boys of Ulster into the bargain. Now, over much of Ulster, we hold the whip.

Fermanagh, both supporters and players, are expectant.

This expectancy was evident as I watched the Fermanagh minors arrive on Sunday to Brewster Park. I was struck by the confidence which oozed from every pore. It wasn't arrogance but rather a quiet assurance. They walked like men comfortable in the skin of a Fermanagh footballer. There was no nervousness, no edginess, no fear.

But they lost I hear you cry! I know, but that does not take away from the fact that the attitude towards what constitutes success and failure has changed completely in the last two decades.

Twenty yeas ago Moffat and co caused a huge upset when they defeated Armagh in the Minor Championship. Contrast that with Sunday where a defeat and poor performance was a shock to the system. Twenty years ago it was a shock to win, now it is a shock to lose. Kieran Donnelly was a shattered man after the game, the players too. It was inexplicable. 'How did we lose?' was the expression written all over their faces.

Yes, make no mistake about it Fermanagh football has changed beyond all recognition. Any semblance of an inferiority complex has been well and truly shaken off and there is no longer a fear when coming up against Ulster's best. There were plenty of Fermanagh senior teams post 82 who were a lot better than their first round exits indicate but with no second chance to redeem themselves it became harder and harder each year to earn that elusive victory in Ulster. Circumstances conspired to work against them.

But then came the back door and confidence was breathed into Fermanagh football - although to be fair Pat King had masterminded three Ulster Championship victories between 1999 and 2000 in the pre back door era. But it was the qualifiers that really made Fermanagh people believe. Westmeath, Cavan, Meath, Wexford, Clare, Mayo have all been put to the sword and as victories were earned the realisation seeped in that we were as good as the next man, as good as the next team.

Fermanagh have a chance to build for the future. The steady progress of our senior team since the mid nineties needs to harnessed. We may be small in terms of population but that is no hurdle. We can continue to compete with the best that the country has to offer if we put the development of our youth at the forefront of our plans. Yes things have changed since Fermanagh minors beat Armagh in 1988. They were a rose in the desert back then. Now the county is in full bloom.