Erne boss Donnelly ‘wary’ of Leitrim challenge

By Katrina Brennan

“FOCUS on ourselves” will be Fermanagh manager Kieran Donnelly’s message to his players as they head into their penultimate league fixture with Leitrim this Sunday.

While promotion is still mathematically possible, it would very much depend on other results going in the Erne men’s favour.

Things are tight in Division Three. Kildare lead the charge with Offaly also sitting joint at the top on eight points.

Laois and Clare lie third and fourth respectively with Fermanagh occupying the fifth spot.

Below them, Antrim, Sligo and bottom-of-the-table Leitrim are battling it out in the relegation spots, but at this stage, anything could happen.

At the weekend, Sligo had a big win against Clare to lift them to three points and that victory sets up a massive game between Antrim and Sligo this weekend in their fight for survival.

“We still have a chance of promotion if you win your last two games but you need results to go your way.

“But, the message with us is just to focus on ourselves and win the game on Sunday and not take Leitrim lightly, but it has left quite a competitive last two games,” acknowledged Donnelly.

Leitrim are still in search of their first win of the campaign, under manager Steven Poacher. The last day out was the closest they came, running Mickey Harte’s Offaly close on a scoreline of 1-9 to 1-13.

Donnelly and co. will be on their guard when they make the short trip to Ballinamore on Sunday.

“The one thing about the Leitrim squad; it’s been a tough start but they have a lot of good players and in fairness to Steven Poacher, he has taken a real positive approach to it and they have a real good batch of youth coming through.

“They are very strong at u-20 and u-17 and their team is back-boned by that,” Donnelly said.

“The fact that they ran Offaly close just heightens our awareness that we have to be full on it at the weekend and go with the right mindset and nothing less than that will get us a win at the weekend,” he warned.

Fermanagh played Monaghan in a challenge game in Clones last weekend.

While the Farney men ran out winners by half a dozen points, the result was less significant for the Erne boss.

“It was a brilliant game for us because Monaghan started with Darren Hughes and Karl O’Connell and Ryan McAnespie and Sean Jones; all players that started for them last year in Division One. It was a real high level opposition which was perfect and the fact it was in Clones as well added a bit extra to it.”

Fermanagh defender Luke Flanagan played for his first full game since their pre-season friendly with Monaghan in Tempo when the Derrylin man picked up a hamstring injury in the first few minutes.

Brandon Horan also played the full game which is a positive for Fermanagh.

The return of key forwards Ultán Kelm and Conor Love is still uncertain.

Kelm has missed out on the last couple of games due to an ongoing hip injury but it is understood the signs are looking good for the Erne Gaels man and he was back on the grass training last week.

However Donnelly feels his participation in the Leitrim game is unlikely.

“We’re hoping to start phasing him up a wee bit more this week and then see how he is but this weekend will probably come too soon for him again.”