Allianz NFL Division 2
Derry v Fermanagh @ Celtic Park
Sunday January 31st @ 2.15pm
Referee – Martin Duffy, Sligo
Fermanagh make the 55 mile trip to Celtic Park on Sunday to start their National Football League Division 2 campaign against a Derry side who will still be feeling the after affects of the McKenna Cup Final defeat to Tyrone on Saturday past.
Pete McGrath is now into his third year as Fermanagh boss, and the signs are obvious that the team are improving after a superb 2015 season seen promotion and an All Ireland Quarter Final place secured. Derry go into the game with a new manager at the helm in former All Ireland winner Damian Barton.
Fermanagh’s recent McKenna Cup success seen them reach the Semi Final stage for the 4th time in 5 years but they came up against a battle hardened Tyrone side who went onto win the competition. That Final seen Derry defeated by Tyrone after extra time in a hugely riveting game with no less than 48 players getting a piece of the action in Armagh.
Fermanagh will look to Eoin Donnelly to provide calmness around midfield on Sunday and with players like Barry Mulrone, Conall Jones and of course Sean Quigley in fine form then anything will be possible for the Erne charges.
Last season very few gave Fermanagh much hope in Division 3 but they put in some fine performances that seen them promoted with a win over Wexford in round 6. This time around very little has changed with bookmakers quoting Fermanagh as 4/6 favourites for relegation in a division consisting of 5 Ulster sides.
Derry will come into the game without key marksman Enda Lynn(ankle) and injuries to Brendan Rogers and Danny Heavron have left the duo very doubtful after all picking up serious injuries in last Saturday’s Final, but they can still count on players such as Chris McKaigue, James Kielt, Ryan Bell and new boy Chris Kearns from Magherafelt who has been in superb form alongside Bell in the McKenna Cup.
Mark Lynch will look to make a return from injury to bolster a midfield who have been badly missing Niall Holly and Patsy Bradley.
Derry go into the game as warm 2/5 favourites but this game could very much go either way here with the draw best priced at 8/1.
By Tom Fri 29th Jan
