Coa_gael (Fermanagh) - Posts: 1185 - 27/12/2023 11:06:20    2517729

ekn_teacher (Fermanagh) - Posts: 272 - 29/12/2023 00:06:11    2517800

Well done to Fermanagh on a season opening win yesterday.

Good performance, were made to work for the win at the end with a harsh black card forcing them down to 14 and Antrim took full advantage bringing it back to minimum.

First half were very good, 4 points difference really flattered Antrim. I haven't seen Fermanagh dominate a team like that in a while. Half backs & half forward drove at pace with a couple of really nice scores from Sean Cassidy & Ronan McCaffrey. Really liked McCaffrey at CHF. Would like to see someone else given a chance at FF on Wednesday night (Bogue, Love, King etc.) to see how they fair in comparison to Jones' performance today.

Full back line were brilliant, didn't give Antrim much of a sniff. Goal was a disappointment mind you, another slippery one to concede yesterday. McNally is a great goalie with distribution and shot stopping but unfortunately due to his smaller frame teams will target high balls on him.

All the new lads that came in impressed me, King had a nice score to seal the match at the end (I know he was in the panel last year but would hope he would see more game time this year)

Bailah (Fermanagh) - Posts: 45 - 08/01/2024 10:25:45    2518963

Well, we got off to a good start yesterday with our Fermanagh team's opening fixture in the Dr McKenna Cup proving to be a successful one as we held on for a one-point win, despite a late Antrim charge, with a concluding score line of Antrim 1-9 Fermanagh 1-10.
Scorers for Fermanagh: L Cullen (1-0); R McCaffrey, S Cassidy, G Jones (1 free)(0-2 each); U Kelm, O Smyth, D King, C Love (free)(0-1 each).
Fermanagh starting team: Sean McNally; Lee Cullen, Ché Cullen, Oisin Smyth; Declan McCusker, Shane McGullion, Josh Largo-Ennis; Brandon Horan, Conor McGee; Aidan Breen, Ronan McCaffrey, Conor McShea; Ultan Kelm, Garvan Jones and Sean Cassidy.
Subs: Diarmuid King for Jones (49), Conor Love for Cassidy (49), Joe McDade for Breen (54), Ryan Lyons for McGullion (57), Cian McManus for McShea (67), Tiarnan Bogue for Kelm (70).

erneboy (Fermanagh) - Posts: 1400 - 08/01/2024 10:46:05    2518972

Happy New Year all fellow Fermanagh GAA Supporters.

Good to see the team start the year with a win, albeit in the McKenna Cup, though given that had black card for the end of the game shows battling spirit is still there. Though when look at both starting teams, Antrim certainly had a more experimental team out than Fermanagh, of the starting 15 id say Oisin Smyth be the only new player( i know on panel last year but dont think got much if any game time), so Fermanagh certainly had a very experienced team out. Great to see Diarmuid King make impact when came on as going to need him stepping up this year plus good to have Conor Love, Tiarnan Bogue and Joe McDade back involved, especially with few influential players gone from last year.
Positive displays from Decky McCusker and Brandon Horan, the Cullens also very strong throughout, Garvan Jones tried hard but the full forward roll is new to him.

With a very tough Division 2 league campaign on the horizon Fermanagh need to hit the ground away to Meath , so im sure this is factor in team selection as need to be full tilt and try get points on board from first 2 fixtures. The sigerson cup always has an impact too this time of year though the panel could highlight that not an many young players ready to step up to the senior panel at minute in the county.

Darragh McGurn and Johnny Cassidy likley not available until late February, both will be hugely missed, seen Luke Flanagan is absent, has he not went back this year or is that an injury?

Monaghan will provide a sterner test on Wednesday night, hopefully get a positive performance, with only 3 home games in league(1 of those in Ederney),it be crucial Fermanagh make Brewster Park a tough place to come too.

Good to have the football back,looking forward to another season and hopefully lots of positive performances and contributions on here:-)

macca999 (Fermanagh) - Posts: 1142 - 08/01/2024 18:33:17    2519102

Dr McKenna Cup
Full Time
Fermanagh: 0-12(12)
Monaghan: 2-9(15)
A close brutal game with the Farneymen winning out towards the end of the 2nd half.

erneboy (Fermanagh) - Posts: 1400 - 10/01/2024 21:09:46    2519488

erneboy (Fermanagh) - Posts: 1400 - 10/01/2024 22:38:05    2519507

veterngaa (Monaghan) - Posts: 653 - 11/01/2024 10:43:53    2519564

Bailah (Fermanagh) - Posts: 45 - 11/01/2024 12:46:00    2519589

veterngaa (Monaghan) - Posts: 653 - 11/01/2024 15:25:56    2519647

hope to see lots of fermanagh fans down in navan in 2 weeks , its a giid town on a saturday night if there are groups planning on staying theres a few hotels and good b and bs in the town also. all meath fans are looking forward to this fixture since they came out in november so should be a massive crowd, we know we need to target this game big time so id say it could be championship fervour. meath played Galway on saturday and lost 0-15 to 0-11. both had near full strength. should be a great game, i cant see us beating armagh or donegal both away from home them and we also have a massive local dearby vs Kildare in navan which will be the marquee game for us. book hotels etc soon though because there are a lot of hen parties in navan most weekends

dickie10 (UK) - Posts: 767 - 16/01/2024 09:38:34    2520401

TurnipHead. (Fermanagh) - Posts: 248 - 16/01/2024 14:42:05    2520483

Hi Dickie, thanks for taking the time to post on our forum in the eager anticipation of our upcoming league clash and look forward to it, be nice to see a massive crowd even with the strange enough early Saturday throw in time. Always a good atmosphere in Navan despite the facilities, be super when works completed. Have had some great battles with Meath over the years though you have came out better on most recent occasions.

Ignore the previous poster, there does be a few posters here who prefer to snip at every opportunity, and go with a glass half empty approach to any contributions to the forum, the local attempts at sarcasm can work in mysterious ways.

Given the strength of Division 2 this year im sure Colm o Rourke and co have this earnmarked as a must win game and will expect to make home advantage count. Fermanagh will be looking to hit the ground running as cant afford to be cut adrift after first 2 games in this division and will feel that if reach their best that a win is a possible but by no means confident or underestimating Meath. If Fermanagh can stay in Division 2 it be a massive achievement, with provincial draws for teams wanting to be 100% sure of place in Sam Maguire 5th place finished be required potentially.

macca999 (Fermanagh) - Posts: 1142 - 16/01/2024 23:39:17    2520588

TurnipHead. (Fermanagh) - Posts: 248 - 18/01/2024 11:15:34    2520780

barneytown (Fermanagh) - Posts: 293 - 19/01/2024 14:12:39    2520964

macca999 (Fermanagh) - Posts: 1142 - 20/01/2024 13:10:36    2521107

Could have easily been a win for Fermanagh today if only those wides had went over the bar. Too many chances missed. Good defending for the most part but mistakes were made. The twins are strong but sometimes easily outwitted. A massive game input from McNally, so much for that slobber who criticises the goalkeeper! Overall, not a bad start at the higher league level.

barneytown (Fermanagh) - Posts: 293 - 27/01/2024 23:03:19    2522536

I am happy with the draw, better to leave with a point than nothing especially away from home. Game could have went either way both teams had a chance to win the game at the end.

We were the better team in the 1st half, should have been more ahead at ht but free taking was an issue. The goal was well worked and probably the only time we moved the ball quick and direct. The Sub of mccusker back fired, he was involved in the goal and was winning a lot of dirty ball in mid. Kelm had a goal chance saved. Our defence was very good and we turned meath over numerous times. However meath had 3 goal chances which they should have scored if it was not for some bad decision making on their part and good recovery from are defence. Don't know what Joe did to get a black card. Both teams looked recked by the end, if the game went on any longer think we would have lost.

I am defo old school but hate seeing keepers running out the field, taking frees and 45s.

Overall very pleased with the result and pleased with how the team played. Man of match for me was che but other good performers In Lee, mcgee, cassidy and mccusker. The result has left me more optimistic for the rest of the league and hopefully we can get a win next week against kildare. Need to make home advantage count.

How many points do you reckon we need to be safe? I think 5, 4 could do it but will come down to score difference.

ERNEDEVIL (Fermanagh) - Posts: 69 - 28/01/2024 18:02:34    2522763

Before the ball was thrown in yesterday likely would have taken a point but way game transpired certainly a slight sense of disappointment with draw although with extra man and breeze Meath had their chance to snatch it.

Meath are a physically big team but credit to the youthful Fermanagh team they stood up well and matched them with great intensity, forced some excellent turnovers and blocks made throughout.

The wind had big impact on the game, we probably didnt utilise it enough first half, dropped 2 frees short while Kelm snatched a couple of efforts, goal was crucial on stroke of half time, as breeze was probably worth 5 point cushion.

Getting first score second half was important to give team further belief, Meath did start pressing kick out and began to win midfield battle. Thought McDades black card was harsh, but as Donnelly mentioned after the game the team showed great character given with man down and pressure on as alot of new players being exposed to that level, so that was very encouraging. Fermanagh had a few attacks to go 2 points up in final 10 which could have clinched the win but McManus, Jones and McGullion were turned over, Meath could have punished us then but lack of speed in the their attack and wrong choice of pass let Fermanagh off hook, other teams in league would have had 2 goals yesterday, thats an area need to work on. Surprised O Rourke too Lynch and Frayne off, thought our subs could have been made bit sooner.
Che was solid as ever, while Oisin Smyth, McDade and Sean Cassidy all did well, Kelm be disappointed with his shooting but was excellent at linking play all over pitch and better players, im sure other teams will be alot more focussed on limiting him than Meath were.

Overall a positive enough start to the campaign, results already showing just how difficult it will be for teams to guarantee Division 2 status, certainly need to make home advantage count as will need 6 points to guarantee that, with every point being hard earned.

Kildare will come to Brewster desperate for win now so need to match that hunger and in large numbers, poor turnout from Fermanagh supporters yesterday hope better showing Saturday evening.
Hopefully Decky be okay after yesterdays injury and that Ryan Lyons and Conor Love be in position to play a part as we will need players to make possession count on scoreboard both starting and from bench.

Roll on Saturday!

macca999 (Fermanagh) - Posts: 1142 - 28/01/2024 19:07:22    2522802

hillbilly. (Fermanagh) - Posts: 38 - 28/01/2024 19:18:47    2522808