Fermanagh have amazingly been paired once again with Antrim in the 2016 Ulster championship, the game is set for the first clash of the Championship in Brewster Park with the winner then moving into the Quarter Finals to face Rory Gallagher’s Donegal side.
Pete McGrath speaking after the draw accepted that Fermanagh won’t be looking at the Ulster Championship until after the conclusion of the NFL Division 2.
He said, “At the end of the day its Championship football and you get who you get. It’s a Preliminary round clash and its Antrim again but we have a lot of football to play before the Saffrons come calling. After Division 2 we will be seriously ready for the Ulster Championship and we know it will not be an easy game.”
He continued, “Donegal will be next for the winner but that in all fairness that means absolutely nothing right now. We will get the NFL out of the way and then concentrate on Antrim. We finished last season on a real high but sometime in the middle of May in 2016 we will be ready and willing to put in a performance against Antrim. Whatever happens in the NFL we will work through, after our league is over we will have a good idea on how the side are shaping up.”
McGrath is also set to manage the Fermanagh Under-21’s in 2016 and after drawing Monaghan he refused to believe that the Erne men have drawn the short straw in getting the 2013 Ulster Minor Champions.
He said, ” I am a firm believer that a lot of minor players don’t come through to Under-21 level, some players 3 years later have went backwards, some have maybe gave up the game and men that weren’t even in the squad in 2013 may now be star players 3 years later. It can be a large turnover of players at that level but I can assure all Fermanagh supporters I will have the Under-21 team prepared and committed to put in a performance against Monaghan next March.”
Lastly McGrath expressed that he was happy with the way Fermanagh performed in 2015 but has not got to hear from any player yet on any retirements, “None yet, but I do intend on calling a players meeting in the next few week were we can sit down and talk about 2016. Nobody has told me that they are retiring and I am very much hopeful I don’t hear of any retirements. Of course I will be looking at other players and have seen other players perform in the Championship but for now I will be sitting down to put in a strong squad for 2016 and hopefully we can get going from there.”
The Fermanagh side as of GAA rules can start training from December 1st and it is clear from Pete McGrath the thirst of management still burns as strong as ever and Fermanagh are blessed to have a man like him.
By Tom Thu 15th Oct
