By Niall Gartland

THE enthusiasm and energy of Declan Bonner is a very positive omen for Fermanagh football, according to one of his right-hand men, Aidan McCarron.

Both Bonner and McCarron have been at the coalface of Fermanagh club football in recent seasons – albeit on opposition dug-outs – and now they’ve joined forces at intercounty level.

Declan Bonner steered Erne Gaels to back-to-back senior titles before stepping into the breach vacated by Kieran Donnelly, and he’s set to get his tenure officially underway against Cavan at Tempo next Wednesday night.

Speaking at the launch of the McKenna Cup, McCarron, a former Tyrone footballer who now resides in Enniskillen, explains his decision to link up with Bonner.

“I came up against him in the 2024 county final, I was with Enniskillen and he was with Erne Gaels. They beat us in the final after a replay and then I came across him again last year in a couple of league games.

“We didn’t have many interactions but he gave me a call when he was putting the management team together – we met and spoke and we see a lot of things the same way.

“I was really impressed with his energy. His track trecord is fantastic. You’ve Paul Brennan, Emlyn Mulligan and Nevin O’Donnell in the backroom as well, so it’s very exciting and it’s been very enjoyable so far.”

Though Bonner is a proud Donegal man, he comes armed with an in-depth knowledge of the county’s football scene from his two seasons at the helm of Erne Gaels. On top of that, he’s keen to improve the self-perception of Fermanagh football.

McCarron commented: “One of Declan’s great traits is that if he sees a player just a couple of times, he knows all their strengths and weaknesses. He’s had two years looking around Fermanagh football, and I’ve had two years coaching in Fermanagh, and I’ve been living in the area longer than that, so I’ve watched the players from afar.

“We speak about the culture in Fermanagh regularly – there’s nobody born intrinsically better in Tyrone and Donegal than there is in Fermanagh. Maybe a wee bit more belief is needed.

“Declan’s energy and enthusiasm is infectious. It rubs off on the management team, and you can see it rubbing off on the players as well. We’re trying to instill the message in the players that if they really push themselves to the boundaries of what’s possible, good things can happen.”

While the unavailability of the Cullen twins Lee and Che is a blow, and Ryan Lyons isn’t presently involved, McCarron is encouraged by the aptitude of new faces who are keen to make their mark.

“We’ve had a few retirements and long-term injuries. We have a panel of about 44 but that doesn’t include lads who are injured.

“A lot of new lads are coming in, a lot of young, hungry players, and that aligns with the energy and intensity that we want to bring. Good young players have no fear and we’re setting that. Lads are really putting their hands up at training and that’s what we want to see.”

One of the young players who has impressed in the early stages of the season is Cian O’Brien, who rattled in a massive tally in a recent challenge match against Tyrone.

“That was a good run out – both teams will have learnt a lot from it. We had four or five lads who made their senior debut. The reports said Cian scored 2-7 but he reckons it was 2-8!

“It was his first game at senior level, and he knows where the posts are. That performance will have given him a lift going into training, but it’s about keeping your feet on the ground and working as hard as you can.

“I know it’s a cliché, but that’s all we ask – that every night they come to training, they commit to what the management want to do, and we’ll commit to the players, and we’ll see where that takes us.”

The Ernesiders commence their McKenna Cup campaign against Cavan next Wednesday evening. The Breffni County are also in the early days of a new management set-up headed up by Dermot McCabe, so both teams will be particularly keen to get 2026 off on the right foot.

“They’re two new set-ups and then we’re away to Monaghan on the seventh. Coming in as a new management team, the McKenna Cup is massive for us. Challenge games are great, but to have that bit of competitive football in January will set teams in good stead for the league.”