Our Games with… Fermanagh’s Shaun Doherty

Name: Shaun Doherty

Teams played for: Kinawley Brian Boru’s, St Aidan’s Derrylin, St Michaels College, UUJ and Fermanagh

Current involvement: Still playing senior football for Kinawley Brian Boru’s

Which Club game, that you played in, will you never forget and why?

My first senior game v Teemore. Had just played an u-16 game and with senior numbers low I played. I spent the following 60 minutes getting battered.

Which club game, that you watched, will you never forget and why?

1993 Fermanagh County Final, Kinawley Brian Boru’s v St Mary’s Devenish. Will never forget it because of all the hype in school leading up to game the atmosphere on the hill before the game and the start Kinawley had. Unfortunately the game didn’t go our way but it did drive me on as a cub to want to win a senior championship.

Which county game, that you played in, will you never forget and why?

Didn’t play in it too long possibly final 15 minutes or so but Mayo in National League in 2003. All we needed to do was not lose and we would make the National league semi-finals and get to Croke Park for the first time. Looking back this was a massive breakthrough for this group in terms of belief and a result that would help propel the County and majority of these players to go on and reach All Ireland Semi – Finals and Ulster Finals over the following 5 years.

Which county game, that you watched, will you never forget and why?

Mayo v Fermanagh 2004 All Ireland Semi – Final. I’ll never forget it because we played so well all championship and were so close to getting to an All-Ireland Final which was crazy for a county like Fermanagh. I will also remember that year as I had to stop playing due to a persistent back problems and I found stepping away very tough as a young cub to deal with.

What was the funniest thing you ever saw in a game?

Playing Dublin in Parnell Park. To be honest I didn’t realise they kept as many sheep in the stands, them being city boys and all that. Or the Sean Quigley goal against Dublin 2016 – nothing at all wrong with it!

What was the strangest thing you ever saw in a game?

Mightn’t seem strange now but it was a penalty shootout in a Sigerson Match v Sligo IT in Sligo. There was basically no UUJ Supporters down at the game and the referee allowed all the Sligo IT Supporters to stand on the D line to watch the kicks. Let’s just say there was a few choice words been said when we had a penalty. We won but we had to get out of Sligo quick.

What was the most memorable performance from a player in a game that you watched?

Brandon Horan, St Michael’s College Enniskillen in the Hogan Final. Brandon led the team remarkably all year as captain and on the biggest day for the college with all the pressure on him to perform, once again he rose to the occasion and controlled the middle third with Joe Mc Dade helping to lay the foundations for St Michael’s to win the Hogan Cup for the first time in the colleges’ history.

What was the most memorable performance from a player in a game that you played?

Ciaran O Reilly, MacRory Cup Final 2002 v Omagh CBS. Ciaran got 1-4 that day and didn’t put a foot wrong the whole game. It was a complete performance and one that you would hope for on a big day.

What did you love about the games you played in?

I always loved the opportunity to be able to compete and challenge myself and I still do to this day.

What did you hate about the games you played in?

Losing. I was a terrible loser but over time I learnt that football is to be enjoyed and there are much more important things in the world. Once you knew you and your team gave it their best what more could you ask for?