The draw has been made for the 2016 Nicky Rackard Cup.
The Fermanagh hurlers will play Monaghan in a home clash in Round One on Sat 23rd April 2016.
Elsewhere in Round One, Mayo take on Tyrone, Armagh host Donegal and Fingal take on Longford.
Roscommon won this year’s Nicky Rackard Cup, defeating Armagh in Croke Park in June, 2-12 to 1-14.
The Fermanagh side won the Lory Meagher Cup in 2015, defeating Sligo in an eventful final which seen the Erne men lifting the Cup on a scoreline of 3-16 to 1-17. They then had to defeat Louth in Breffni Park in a Relegation/Promotion game which they did to get the reward of playing Nicky Rackard hurling in 2016.
The Fermanagh side will once again be managed by experienced duo Seamus McCusker and Sean Duffy, although a panel or a meeting with the players has still to be completed.
This Friday night sees the Fermanagh hurlers that were victorious in Croke Park back in June be rewarded with a Presentation night this coming Friday night in the Westville Hotel, Enniskillen.
Fermanagh attacker Ciaran Corrigan (pictured with ball) agrees that Monaghan is a difficult draw for his side, “Regardless of who we were going to get it was always going to be a huge challenge as its a big step up from Lory Meagher hurling. Winning the Lory Meagher was a huge achievement and one we all enjoyed after a tough year for us.”
Fermanagh met Monaghan this year in the NHL with the Farney county winning 0-12 to 3-13 and Corrigan says they can learn from other teams, “Tyrone’s success at this level in 2014 shows us that we are well fit to compete at this level and come April 23rd we will certainly be setting out to beat Monaghan.”
Dual star Corrigan has a busy 2016, the Maguiresbridge man has also been called up to Pete McGrath’s Under-21 football squad and says for now he will concentrate on the football as they also meet Monaghan in March.
