Strength and depth key says Enniskillen Gaels boss Simon Bradley

By Mark McGoldrick

ENNISKILLEN Gaels manager Simon Bradley (pictured) said he’s looking forward to a “winner takes all” game against Kinawley in two weeks after his side made it two wins from two against Belnaleck on Saturday.

Bradley’s charges came through a difficult Belnaleck challenge to earn a place in the knockout stages of the competition, with a game still to play.

The Gaels’ boss was pleased with his team’s performance.

“It is what it is, you can’t ask for any more. We’re happy to be leaving here on four points heading into the final game in two weeks’ time,” said Bradley.

“[The two first half goals] gave us the platform in the second half where we could sit back a wee bit and Belnaleck kicked some great scores in the second half to put us under a bit of pressure.

“I always felt that we’d come good and we got three really well worked goals,” he admitted.

While Brandon Horan was sidelined with a hamstring injury, Bradley had a full hand to pick from for Saturday’s game, introducing the likes of Eoin Beacom and Conor Murphy off the bench in the second half.

The Enniskillen Gaels boss said it’ “massively important” to have a healthy squad heading into the knockout stages.

“We keep talking about the squad and this is why this management takes both teams.

“We’re very happy doing that and there are players frustrated that they’re not getting game time but they know they’re appreciated and it helps at training.

“We brought on four or five players today and all of them had an impact.”

Enniskillen have a week’s break before they’re scheduled to take on Kinawley in their final round group stage game, with the winner guaranteed automatic qualification to the semi-final of the championship.

“It’s winner takes all. You can go route one or you can go through the quarter-finals,” the Gaels boss said.

“The year that we won it we went through the quarter-finals and the year we didn’t win it we got knocked out in the semi-final.

“We’ll take whatever and we’ll definitely be trying to win that last game.”