Fermanagh in good form ahead of visit of the Yeatsmen

By Katrina Brennan

“STOP giving me a heart attack boys,” laughed Fermanagh manager Kieran Donnelly after his side’s one-point win against a previously unbeaten Offaly team, setting them up nicely for Saturday’s match against Sligo at Brewster Park.

Donnelly could afford laugh because it was a big win and one they needed after losing to Clare the previous week and to league leaders Kildare in the opening round.

“To lose that would’ve been sickening to be honest,” said Donnelly, after his side let nine-point lead at the break evaporate to just get over the line by the bare minimum, after a second-half Offaly resurgence.

Fermanagh produced their best 35 minutes of football this year in the opening half, against a strong Ederney wind, kicking 1-10 and holding the Faithful County to 1-1.

“We built our play really well, we were really patient, had a lot of different scorers,” said the Erne boss.

“I just thought we showed great energy in that first half against a real difficult breeze. We thought that was something we could build on and if we could match that possession and move the ball about but of course it didn’t end up like that with the early goal.”

An almighty downpour at the break rained on Fermanagh’s parade in more ways than one though.

“The pitch getting heavier and them getting the goals forced us to do things we didn’t need to do in that critical period but I just thought we settled ourselves in that last ten minutes which was a big thing.

“A few of the subs brought us a bit of energy, it was just massive that we dug in.

“A couple of dirty balls that we had no right to win and that was the big thing.”

Fermanagh have a six-day turnaround before they play Sligo on Saturday evening in Brewster Park.

Sligo’s fourth round game against Clare last weekend in Markeivic Park was postponed due to the weather so they’ll be well rested when they make the short trip to Enniskillen bidding to get their first points of the campaign.

“They (Sligo) had a real good campaign last year, should’ve beat Galway down in Connacht, so it’ll be a tough game and no doubt with their week’s break they’ll come that bit fresher but again, it’s at home and one we’ll look forward to.”

Fermanagh will hope to have Ché Cullen available on Saturday evening after he limped off with a knee injury. The return of players like Conor McGee, Oisin Smyth and Sean Cassidy gives Donnelly more options and Ultán Kelm’s return from a hip injury would be a major plus should he be available.