The London team celebrate their side's All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier victory over Fermanagh last year
THERE is a certain poignance in the fact that Peter Canavan’s reign over Fermanagh truly begins on the same patch of grass that ended John O’Neill’s, when Fermanagh limped out of the 2011 Championship with a deserved win for London in the qualifiers.
That day, Fermanagh knew exactly what to expect. There was a structure to the weekend and they were familiar with how London would play, what Ruislip was like, even to the extent that they knew there would be country and wobbly music playing throughout the warm-up. But the London players, rumoured to have invested considerable sums on themselves beating Fermanagh, swamped their guests.
This fixture gives Canavan a chance to wipe that slate clean. Last weekend, the squad spent the weekend away in the Carton House Hotel, a retreat before the real business starts. They emerged with an extended panel of 35 players and some peace of mind. So far, so very Tyrone.
The prospect of a fully-firing Fermanagh team has also persuaded Shane McCabe to forgo his lucrative soccer contract with Portadown and join the cause. His inventiveness on the ball will be needed to prise openings in a league that is top-heavy with cautious sides.
London entered the FBD league this winter for the first time. Defeats to NUI Galway, Galway, Sligo and IT Sligo followed, leaving them at the foot of the table and having scored a lowly 32 points in four games.
They were forced to play their games on successive days over two weekends, given their obvious logistical problems.
Their pre-season was reported to have been serious hard work, and the general management from coach Paul Coggins is said to be highly professional.
A win in Ruislip is by no means a racing certainty. But if it can be obtained by whatever means, it will be relieving and cathartic. And that’s what’s most needed right now.
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