Fermanagh GAA Public Relations Officer Pauric McGurn asked the questions to Fermanagh manager Pete McGrath.
Pauric = Fermanagh fans heard great news during the week when it was confirmed you are staying on for 2016, what is your immediate plans now with the County team?
Pete = I have already met up with the 2015 panel and we have also met up with the entire Fermanagh management team on another night and overall everyone is looking forward to going again for the new season. The squad have shown a great hunger throughout the season and already I am working on getting a Strength & Conditioning plan in place and then getting back out onto the pitch. I know the Club Championship and league have still to run for clubs but I will handle that and I will manage each player solely to their needs.
Pauric = This Fermanagh team made the Quarter Finals of the All Ireland in 2015, can we go even better in 2016?
Pete = I really feel this squad has so much more to give, the players are eager to get started again and we will once again take one game at a time. We are now into Division 2 of the National Football League and we have some hugely interesting games coming up. There is a strong squad here and I fully intend to get them as far as I possibly can.
Pauric = Have you your eye on any player that was not in the 2015 panel?
Pete = Once again a panel will be named and it will be an open door panel. I watched a number of the last Club Championship games while other members of the Fermanagh management team watched other games. If a player is capable of bringing something extra into the squad then he will certainly be giving a chance. I will be at all four games on Sunday and will be watching every player closely.
Pauric = What was your most memorable moment of managing Fermanagh in 2015?
Pete = The game v Roscommon stands out by a mile being honest. We were 5 points behind with just 6 minutes to go and not many would have gave us a chance of winning the game with that time left. It must be remembered we defeated an extremely strong Roscommon side that will play Division 1 football next year. The scenes after the game were terrific with the supporters really showing what football meant to them. The Fermanagh fans are a special bunch and as we seen in Breffni Park and Croke Park after this they really are the best around.
Pauric = The All Ireland Final of Dublin v Kerry is coming up in next weekend, who will win it?
Pete = Both sides were pushed hard in the Semi-finals but the better team won out in both. I feel the best defence will win the All-Ireland this year but it should be an extremely close game that I am really looking forward to watching. They are 2 exceptional sides and the quality they have on the bench is terrific. At the start of the season I tipped Dublin and I am sticking with Dublin to lift a 25th All-Ireland title.
By Tom Mon 14th Sep
