Erne set to experiment as semi-final comes into view

By Martin McBrien

FERMANAGH manager CJ McGourty has said attention has now turned to their forthcoming Division Four semi-final after their latest win over Sligo.

The Erne County were already assured of a last-four spot ahead of the game in Irvinestown, but made no mistake with a 2-10 to 0-6 win.

Before the play-offs, the side host Kilkenny on Sunday which should be a one-sided affair, although the manager has hinted at changes, albeit with injuries dictating the scale of that.

“There are a lot of people coming back from injury that need game time,” the Antrim man said.

“There’s a lot of people that probably still need game time to keep up the improvement who’ve been a wee bit off it in the last two or three games, so to get a bit of confidence and try to get on the ball as much as possible.

“We’ll check out the bodies and see where we’re at but we’re going to have to steal a couple of the first team definitely just because the amount of injuries we have at the minute is frightening.

“I can’t really throw out a new-look team because we probably don’t have 15 or 16 who could come in.”

Reflecting on the Sligo win at the weekend, the manager was satisfied with what he witnessed from his players.

“I thought we were very convincing,” said McGourty as his side racked up a third straight win.

“Maybe Sligo had a slightly off day, they’re a decent team but I just thought some of the aspects of our play were really, really good.

“Eighty per cent of the teamsheet was the same for them as it was for us last year and how much we’ve improved since then.”

The Erne ladies racked up 2-10 at the weekend with Eimear Smyth, Blaithin Bogue and Niamh McManus all clinical in front of goal. McGourty was pleased with his team’s proficiency.

“Our forward play was decent at times. We went quickly when we needed to, we slowed it down and kept possession when needed to and we showed character and improvement,” he said.

“In the first half the breeze dictated that we had to be patient a wee bit. Sometimes we make loads of mad passes but it seemed we controlled the game a right bit better than them.”

McGourty also praised his team’s defensive platform who kept a clean sheet in Irvinestown.

“The defence was very good, (it’s) not like we had loads of people back,” he said.

“I think that as a 15 we were very good defensively. Eimear Smyth made the block to get the goal, to me that’s defence.

“I thought we made a lot of good turnovers up the field which is always rewarding to see a forward working like that,” he added.