Owens undecided over Fermanagh future

Barry Owens has yet to decide if he will be returning to the Fermanagh fold next year.

The Fermanagh captain, who was praised by the review committee set up to identify the Erne County's 2011 problems for "leading his men with dignity and diplomacy through an extremely difficult time", said in the Irish News: "I haven't really given it much thought.

"If you had asked me straight after (the All-Ireland qualifier defeat to London), I probably would have said not a hope because there was so much disarray and disrespect shown to the jersey.

"We don't have a manager from minor up so it's going to be a long process. I just want to get the club football out of the way first."

Owens added that "a lot of bad feeling" remains among last season's squad towards the players who refused to play under former manager John O'Neill.

"A lot of healing will have to go on between the players that are there and the players that left. For some lads, there will be a lot of bad feeling," he said.

Why are more players not like this? Barry Owens has been one of the top players in the country in the last 10 years and probally been Fermanagh's best yet he doesn't think hes bigger then the county unlike some players....

moomoo (Kerry) - Posts: 4023 - 21/10/2011 16:37:56    1056260

The only "bad feeling" about the place is towards the insignificance of this thread as the tumbleweed rolls through it!!

Regards,

Snufalufagus....Laochra Gael

Snufalufagus (Dublin) - Posts: 8100 - 21/10/2011 16:42:56    1056268

And why snuff is this thread insignificant? Incredibly disrespectful post there to the entire gaa and especially the long suffering gaa folk in Fermanagh.

What happened in Fermanagh last year was a joke. Without going into detail alot of people players and non players have come out of it very badly. Barry Owens has been one of the best footballers in Ireland over the past ten years and I am glad he has been singled out by the report. He got on with what it was about and that was plying football and giving all for the county. I agree with the poster that we could do with more like him.

Derry_ledd (Derry) - Posts: 2093 - 21/10/2011 17:09:02    1056308

got of your high horse, just because your country with over a million people living in it has won one all ireland in 15 years doesnt mean you should be a slabber. seconded that Barry Owens is a great player. would have graced your mob for a fair few years

CheFinny (UK) - Posts: 1358 - 21/10/2011 17:12:03    1056312

Barry Owens is an outstanding footballer (Derry_Ledd will remember his goal against Derry in 2008 when he came on at full-forward when half-crocked by injury) who could easily have made his excuses and left behind a county panel which was in utter disarray. By all accounts, he is also a man of great modesty and integrity and a ferociously loyal club-man who is respected and admired throughout his own county (I rely here on the opinions of friends and relations involved in Fermanagh football as players and coaches). The man is a leader, a hero to every youngster playing ball in Fermanagh and an absolute credit to himself and everyone belonging to him. If honour, integrity and dignity in a person who is his county's greatest ever footballer (alongside the great Peter McGinnity, of course) are to be scoffed at, if there is nothing to the G.A.A. but glory days in Croke Park and loud boasting, then count me out. Respect to Barry Owens, proper footballer, proper man.

doiregael2 (Derry) - Posts: 337 - 21/10/2011 21:58:14    1056556

Everyone knows Snuff is a wind up merchant so don't fall for the troll bait. Dont rise to it.
More importantly Barry Owen is a super player and credit to him for going out there and giving it his best when he puts on the county or club jersey. That is all any fan can ask of the players. Hopefully the management issues can be resolved and Fermanagh can give a good account of themselves next season. Although this trend of players refusing to play for a manger is getting worrying. Its very damaging for the county/club involved.

spmccann (Dublin) - Posts: 209 - 22/10/2011 09:04:25    1056561

Snuf: have enjoyed many of your posts but you have gone down seriously in my estimation: it as relevant, if not more relevant than your" greatest story ever told thread". time to stop basking in the glory of 1 AI in 15/ 2 in 20/ 3 in 30: some very dedicated GAA men have taken the time to identify and address serious issues within Fermanagh; it's just a pity that my fellow county man is not here to take you to task. Barry Owens has given 10 years of his life to his county as opposed to an armchair, laptop and a message-board

KevHill (Antrim) - Posts: 271 - 22/10/2011 09:48:44    1056571

spmccann
County: Dublin
Posts: 70

1056561
Everyone knows Snuff is a wind up merchant so don't fall for the troll bait. Dont rise to it.
More importantly Barry Owen is a super player and credit to him for going out there and giving it his best when he puts on the county or club jersey. That is all any fan can ask of the players. Hopefully the management issues can be resolved and Fermanagh can give a good account of themselves next season. Although this trend of players refusing to play for a manger is getting worrying. Its very damaging for the county/club involved.

Well Cork have set the precedent that if you dont get what you want then strike and you will. I also think to an extent the GPA have brought about the whole ''player power'' thats now part of the game.

moomoo (Kerry) - Posts: 4023 - 22/10/2011 10:00:39    1056575

Typical waste of a post from WUM Snufalufagus.

derfil1 (Kildare) - Posts: 1612 - 22/10/2011 10:08:48    1056579

ahh snuff, people forgetting bout you. people not talking bout your win enough, get it off your chest, you want everyone to talk about nothing but Dublin's all Ireland win, their first since 1995 (which was a dubious win). away to the Dublin forum with you, lots goes on outside of the pale.

keepherlow (Tyrone) - Posts: 127 - 22/10/2011 10:13:31    1056581

Barry owens is a inspiration to every young player up and the down the country, He is the best player fermanagh have produced in a long time 2 all star awards, He owes fermangh nothing. A Man who has done cruciate ligiments in his knee and came back, a man who under went a heart operation and came back to play for fermanagh lesser men like would have walked away when things went against them (last year players) not barry.
Also a mention to marty mcgrath he put of an operation for testicular cancer to play for fermanagh and also came back from a fractured skull to play for fermanagh, not sure if he walked away last year but another brilliant footballer.

shaggylegend (Monaghan) - Posts: 1948 - 22/10/2011 12:24:05    1056645

No comparison when it comes to Owens and McGrath........

hannigantiptoe (Roscommon) - Posts: 41 - 22/10/2011 13:27:21    1056673