Bonner: ‘That’s a huge monkey off our back’

FERMANAGH manager Declan Bonner said that getting over the line in Brewster Park on Saturday evening was a ‘huge monkey off our back’ as the Erne men bid to turn their season around.

With results not going Fermanagh’s way in other games on Sunday, the Erne men have been relegated to Division Four of the National Football League.

While Fermanagh knew the odds of them retaining their league status was slim, they certainly gave the best of themselves, overpowering Laois by two-points in Enniskillen.

“You could feel there was a lot of tension because we hadn’t got over the line. You could sense that,” Bonner said, following the game in Brewster Park on Saturday evening.

“We’re delighted to get the result. I know what the lads are capable of and sometimes you feel like they’re playing with the handbrake on and playing with a bit of fear, but that was very good tonight [Saturday].

“We know the time and the hours and the effort they have put in and you could sense that weight was on their shoulders when we got close to the finish line and we showed good character.”

Fermanagh opened up a four-point lead over Laois at half-time in Enniskillen, with two goals from Darragh McGurn and Luke Flanagan putting them in a strong position.

Laois, who were down to 14 men, rallied late in the second half to level the game, before Fermanagh pulled away to earn their first National Football League win.

Acknowledging that there’s still areas of their game that needs to improve, Bonner feels his players will take plenty of positives from the game.

“I felt we played some really good football and I felt we had control [in the first half], but we needed to control the game in the second half and we didn’t.

“We took the wrong decisions and I was fuming there at times in the second half, but ultimately the important thing was for us to get over the line and that was a huge monkey off our back.”

Bonner made some changes to Fermanagh’s starting lineup for Saturday’s game, with Stephen McGullion and Conor McGee in midfield.

The Donegal man was pleased with the performance of the Derrygonnelly midfielder, as well as Roslea’s James McMahon, who entered the fray as a second half sub.

“Stephen [McGullion] was excellent in the middle of the park,” said Bonner.

“I said that to him in the huddle afterwards, he has been on the periphery of the squad for a long time and I thought that was his finest hour in a Fermanagh jersey.

“It was also good to see young [James] McMahon back on the pitch he adds that bit of experience “

Fermanagh now head to Limerick next weekend to conclude their National Football League campaign.

Bonner wants his players to keep learning and trying to improve as they bid to turn their season around as championship approaches.

“I think the mindset has changed now,” added Bonner.

“It’s so important that these boys go out now this week and move onto Limerick and then we’ll have four or five weeks until championship.

“The lads have put in a brilliant effort and it’s just our game management in that part of the second half that we need to sharpen up on.”