Football

Pete McGrath hints at staying on as Fermanagh manager

Thinking to do. It looks like Pete McGrath has unfinished business with Fermanagh
Thinking to do. It looks like Pete McGrath has unfinished business with Fermanagh Thinking to do. It looks like Pete McGrath has unfinished business with Fermanagh

PETE McGrath has hinted that he could stay on as manager of Fermanagh.

McGrath was expected to step down after a nine-point Qualifier loss to Armagh brought down the curtain on a disappointing fourth season in charge of the Ernemen.

But after taking stock of the underlying reasons for what he described as an ‘annus horribilis’ – retirements, emigration and injuries decimated an already limited supply of personnel – McGrath has indicated that he plans to stay in position for the 2018 season at least.

“We’re looking at it positively,” said the Rostrevor native.

“You could look at the bare facts and say ‘we were relegated and we lost two Championship matches by nine points’ and you would say ‘yeah, it was very disappointing and maybe there’s no way back’.

“But when you look beneath the surface at the issues that we had to deal with, they were out of the ordinary given the numbers that we’re talking about in what is already a small player pool given the fact that there’s only 20 clubs in the county.

“It’s a question of asking: If you got half-decent breaks in the year ahead and people coming back, as they will be, is there still potential in this team? I think there is.

“If we think it’s in the best interests of everyone to go on then that’s maybe the decision we will take, but there’s nothing written in stone yet.”

McGrath, his assistant Raymie Johnston and the other members of the management team met last weekend to discuss their future. He says no “hard and fast” decision was taken at the meeting and he plans to meet with the Fermanagh county board this week.

“We’ll look at the whole picture and take a decision based on what we think is best for Fermanagh football – best for the players and best for the team management,” he said.

“We’re not running away from a situation and if we collectively think we should continue then we will.

“Without making excuses, this has been a very difficult year. We knew there were retirements coming down the line and emigration kicked in as well with Richie O’Callaghan and Conall Jones and then there were injuries that plagued us throughout the season. There was Ryan Jones, Ruairi Corrigan, Eddie Courtney, Owen McManus, Tiaran Daly…

“These were blows that upset the whole dynamic. The players who were fit kept on going but we knew that the numbers game was against us and that’s the way the season meandered along.

“In the two Championship matches this season there were long periods where we stood up to the opposition but it was overall strength and bigger panels that kicked in as both games went on.”

McGrath guided Fermanagh to promotion to Division Two and then the All-Ireland quarter-final in 2015 and after losing to Dublin he said his aim was to deliver a first ever Ulster title for the county.

This year that elusive Anglo-Celt Cup looked as far away as ever, but McGrath insists that he still sees potential in the side – when everyone is available.

“I’m someone who always thinks that things can be done, that people have potential to reach and that there are great opportunities out there if you can get a half-decent break,” he said.

“That’s my way of looking at things and, if we feel there is definitely a way forward, then the decision could be a positive one.”