Fermanagh CCC keen to fulfil outstanding 2020 Junior Football decider

THE Fermanagh CCC says the full intention is that the postponed Junior Championship final between Derrylin and Coa will go ahead this year, and Derrylin boss Aiden Gilroy has a novel suggestion for when it should take place.

Gilroy, who was appointed last week as the new Fermanagh u-17 boss, believes that the postponed final should be played as a ‘preliminary round’ to the 2021 championships as he thinks that would remove the risk of any over-exuberant celebrations.

Gilroy said: “Whenever you messaged me, I got onto the CCC to say Gaelic Life were looking a piece about this, and I got a one-word answer back – ‘yes’, that it will be played.

“I’ve no idea when that will be, but as long as we get plenty of notice it’s comforting to know it will be played.

“All the clubs in the county went through the proper procedures and Covid checks last year, so you want everything to be completed and to get a fair crack at trying to get promoted to the Intermediate Championship.”

He continued: “My preference is that it’s played as sort of a preliminary round as you’re taking away from any chance of over-celebrations from ourselves or Coa, as we’d be out the next week playing in our respective championships anyway.

“It would also give a club a chance of winning two championships in six weeks which doesn’t often happen either.”

Derrylin had been in the doldrums not so long ago, but Ederney native Gilroy says that talented young players coming through the ranks have helped kick-start things at the club on the Fermanagh-Cavan border. That’s one of the reasons he’s more than happy to combine roles as he was also named Fermanagh u-17 boss last week, taking over the mantle from Maurice McLaughlin (the Erne county are set to play Down in a postponed Ulster U-17 championship semi-final from last year).

“I couldn’t leave things while the season was unfinished anyway. I couldn’t be happier at Derrylin, they’re a good club doing good things off the pitch, and there’s plenty of young lads coming through from minor level. It’s not something I’d be looking to leave unless I was pushed!

“Maurice has done a great job with the minors and I’m just humbled and honoured to get a chance to take things over. I’m currently building up a backroom team who I can trust, and more importantly who the players can trust, and also giving them a good secure environment before we start training whenever that will be.”