Twelve months ago and it was a depressed Fermanagh panel who headed to Celtic Park for the Ulster championship clash with Derry. And the team trooped off the Derry venue having shipped a decisive defeat, the day had turned out to be as gloomy as anticipatedThe Boss Gives His Views
This weekend it is a rejuvenated Fermanagh who launch their provincial campaign with Sunday’s fixture with visiting Down at Brewster Park.
This time the Erne panel is in bubbling health and though they will presumably still be regarded in neutral opinion as the underdogs, there is however a real sense of conviction inside the Fermanagh borders that the Mournemen can be overcome.
That conviction is based on a host of positive factors. First and foremost there has been a promotion winning league campaign with a run here of seven wins and one draw. The subsequent defeat in the divisional decider to Wicklow, while disappointing, has not unduly undermined morale.
In fact the defeat could be said to have refocused everyone.
Home ground advantage is also a big factor for Fermanagh have, in the main, proved to be exceptionally tough customers to deal with at Brewster Park in the championship. Over the past fifteen years or so there have been a string of successes in the knockout competition as Down themselves know only too well.
And Down, though they are a first division league side, are an unpredictable team. They are prone to the periodic slip up against allegedly inferior opposition.%0Proxy-Connection: keep-alive
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0ANot that Fermanagh will feel in any way inferior to the visiting James McCarten’s squad.
For in thisProxy-Connection: keep-alive
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hampionship meeting ,in stark contrast to last season’s scenario, Fermanagh do have a terrific opportunity to hurdle their way into the semi finals.
By admin Thu 31st May
