Football

St Mary's boss Tally expecting tougher time against Fermanagh

Fermanagh captain Eoin Donnelly will revert to midfield against St Mary's tomorrow. Picture Margaret McLaughlin
Fermanagh captain Eoin Donnelly will revert to midfield against St Mary's tomorrow. Picture Margaret McLaughlin Fermanagh captain Eoin Donnelly will revert to midfield against St Mary's tomorrow. Picture Margaret McLaughlin

Dr McKenna Cup Section B, round two: Fermanagh v St Mary’s (Brewster Park, 2pm tomorrow)

ST Mary’s boss Paddy Tally admits he’d targeted victory in their opening game – and also that he anticipates much tougher challenges from now on.

Partly that’s due to the loss of key players – Tyrone duo Cathal McShane and Kieran McGeary and Armagh prospect Aaron McKay – partly due to the opposition.

The students edged out a new-look Antrim side in Glenavy but the fact that Fermanagh lost narrowly away to neighbours Monaghan will make the hosts even keener for a win in this clash.

Even if the Ernemen had taken a point or more home from Clones Tally still would have expected a real test from them, commenting:

“It was great to get the win [against Antrim] – we had targeted the win from that match, because I knew there’s a better chance of beating a county team on their first day out. It’s going to get harder from now on.

“It was very satisfying, the way the game flowed and ebbed, it was positive that the boys dug in and pulled the result out of it.

“I expect a very tough game. Fermanagh – their intent in the McKenna Cup is evident, they didn’t release any players to the universities.”

That’s not entirely true as Queen’s had James McMahon in their side against Down last weekend, while Jack McCann of Erne Gaels came on for Ulster University away to Donegal (U21s).

However, Tally has had to do without Maguiresbridge man Ciaran Corrigan, who replaced veteran Ryan McCluskey for the Ernemen in Clones last Sunday and is named to start at centre half-forward tomorrow.

“They put a marker down that they’re taking the competition very seriously,” insists Tally.

The hopes of the visitors to Enniskillen will not be helped by the absence of what Tally, quite rightly, terms “three influential players” – full-back McKay and the versatile McShane and McGeary, both of whom were named in the half-forward line last Sunday.

“They’re absent for various reasons – Kieran is now focussing on his club Pomeroy [who are in the All-Ireland Club Intermediate Football semi-finals]. Aaron and Cathal are just unavailable.

“We have to bring in a few new players to fill those spots; it’ll be an opportunity for other players to play at this level and see how they get on. It does pose new challenges – we have to re-shape our team, fill in positions that are very central.

“That’s part of what this competition is about, exposing these university lads to county teams and seeing how they get on. It’s a great measure for them.”

Fermanagh boss Peter McGrath will know they require nothing less than a win if they are to keep alive hopes of reaching the semi-finals, as they have done in four of the past five seasons.

Yet he may be wary of the threat posed by ‘the Ranch’, having lost to them in this competition in his first season in charge of Fermanagh, 2014, by 1-10 to 3-8, and only beaten them by two points last year 1-13 to 0-14.

McGrath’s approach of not releasing many players to universities this year is entirely understandable as Fermanagh have been hit hard by retirements and injuries.

Defenders Niall Cassidy, Damian Kelly, and Marty O’Brien have all retired from inter-county action, while Ciaran Flaherty, Conall Jones, and Richard O’Callaghan are unavailable this term at least.

They’ve now lost Tiernan Daly for an estimated six weeks to the hamstring injury he sustained early on against Monaghan.

Attacker Ruairi Corrigan is out for months, Ryan Jones until the League at least, while Sean Quigley and Ryan Lyons are working their way back to fitness.

In the absence of those well-known forwards Fermanagh deployed their captain Eoin Donnelly in a roving role in attack but reverts to his familiar midfield berth in a much-changed team.

That allows further opportunities to impress up front for Tommy McCaffrey and Danny Teague, both of whom came off the bench last week – in fact the front six are all changed.

Donnelly is one of just five players named to start who lined out in Clones, along with Lee Cullen, Cian McManus, Declan McCusker, and Ryan Hyde.

Fermanagh managed just five points from play last weekend, although Tomas Corrigan was almost unerringly accurate from frees, converting nine out of 10 against Monaghan.

However, home advantage, that little bit of match fitness, newcomers keen to impress, and the weakening of the St Mary’s side may all combine for a Fermanagh victory.

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Fermanagh: T Treacy; P McGovern, L Cullen, C McManus; C Murphy, B Mulrone, D McCusker, R Hyde, E Donnelly; P Reihill, C Corrigan, J Duffy; D Teague, E McManus, T McCaffrey.

St Mary’s: TBC