Belnaleck determined to end 91-year drought

By Pauric McGurn

BELNALECK boss Daniel Kille has said his players will “give it our best shot” as the Art MacMurrough’s aim to end their 91-year-long wait to win the Fermanagh Senior Football Championship title.

It was in 1933 that the Belnaleck club managed to get their hands on the New York Cup for the only time, but a talented squad and good league campaign has given them hope that they could end their long drought.

With the Cullen twins, Che and Lee, Darragh McGurn, Kane Connor, Bryan Owens and the return of Garvan Quigley from America, Belnaleck certainly have a strong core group of players.

Kille, who took over as manager from Nigel Seaney at the start of this year, has vowed to take it one game at a time in a derby-flavoured group comprising the likes of Enniskillen, Kinawley and Teemore.

“It’s a derby element certainly which I suppose is a positive for the players and easy motivation for them,” said Kille.

“We won’t get bogged down on derby games though, a big focus for us is our performance levels and the first game against Kinawley is our sole target. There are absolutely no easy games in championship football and we need to perform 100 per cent.”

Belnaleck lost out to Kinawley in last year’s quarter-final after extra-time. Kille’s hoping his players will have learned from that experience.

“We were hugely disappointed with that result, we could have won that game but that’s in the past now,” said the Belnaleck boss.

“Kinawley have a bit of an edge over us recently and home advantage stretches a bit for them as well, but we will go in with a good frame of mind and will give it our best shot.”

Belnaleck finished fifth in the league and finished off the campaign with victories over Ederney and Roslea. Kille was pleased with their league performances.

“Our squad is definitely getting healthier thankfully and Garvan coming back from the States unscathed is a major boost for us,” he said. “Garrett Cavanagh and Fergal Keenan who both had lengthy injuries are also now back on the grass so it’s another welcoming bit of news for us.”

With Kinawley first up for Kille’s side this weekend, it would be foolish to write Belnaleck off this season.

“We like every team competing in the senior championship want to be there at the business end,” he said.

“I certainly think we have the quality in our squad, but we must perform consistently and that’s the key to hopefully success.”