Bonner names Fermanagh squad to face Armagh

By Shaun Casey

DECLAN Bonner has announced the Fermanagh team that will take on Armagh this Saturday afternoon in the Donegal natives first Ulster Championship game in charge.

The Erne County have had a difficult season to date following their relegation to Division Four, but they’ll be out to ambush Kieran McGeeney’s Armagh side at Brewster Park.

Two players that defeated Armagh at the same venue back in 2018, Declan McCusker and Ciaran Corrigan, have been included in the starting line-up.

That was the last time Fermanagh tasted success in the Ulster Championship and they went on to contest the provincial final, but came up short against a Donegal team managed by Bonner at the time.

In this year’s league, Bonner’s men picked up just one victory from their seven outings. That came in round six with a two-point win over Laois at Enniskillen but they lost their other home games to Wexford and Clare.

The Fermanagh forward line looks lively and could give Armagh headaches at the back. Conor Love, Darragh McGurn and Garvan Jones in the full forward line all know where the posts are.

With the recent injuries to Ben Crealey and Callum O’Neill, the Erne County could target the middle area of the field, with Stephen McGullion partnering Conor McGee while Joe McDade has been held in reserve.

At the back, Jonathan Cassidy seems to be the go-to man-marker and it will be interesting to see who he shadows for the day. He could potentially pick up either Darragh McMullan or Oisin Conaty to limit their influence on proceedings.

STARTING TEAM

Seán McNally

Luke Flanagan

Oisin Smyth

Shane McGullion

Jonathan Cassidy

Ronan McCaffrey

Declan McCusker

Stephen McGullion

Conor McGee

Brandon Horan

Ciaran Corrigan

Josh Largo Elis

Conor Love

Darragh McGurn

Garvan Jones

SUBS

Ethan McCaffrey

Aogán Kelm

Conor O’Hanlon

Seán Cassidy

Oisín Kelm

Jack Largo Elis

Gary McKenna

Mattie McDermott

Cian O’Brien

Shaun McCarron

Joe McDade