AT senior level Fermanagh’s hurling heartbeat is faint these days and Lisbellaw are the county’s only adult side. However, where there’s life, there’s hope and – with lots of work going on to create a brighter future for the county – the Ernemen begin their Lory Meagher Cup campaign today hoping to give die-hard fans of the caman code something to shout about and youngsters something to aspire towards.
The Covid-19 pandemic has ruled out Warwickshire’s involvement so there are only three counties in the competition – Fermanagh, Louth (their opponents today) and Cavan.
Fermanagh haven’t played a competitive game since finishing a difficult Division 3B campaign (one win from four games meant they finished bottom of the table) in March but they return to the fray focussed on winning the fifth tier competition for only the second time. At least as important, though, is getting out on the field and enjoying a game of hurling.
One squad member tested positive for Covid-19 and two players pulled out of the panel because their partners are nurses and they have young families but apart from those three it’s all-systems-go for the Ernemen.
“It’s definitely good for the mind for boys to get out and do something after being cooped-up in the house for the last six months,” says forward and free-taker Shea Curran.
The counties haven’t met since the Lory Meagher/Nicky Rackard relegation/promotion play-off in 2015, a game Fermanagh won 1-15 to 2-8 at Kingspan Breffni.
“We’d want to get to the final this year,” Curran added.
“I’d say Louth will be the harder team to beat because they have come down from playing in the Nicky Rackard. This is basically a semi-final but we have two bites at it.”
He added: “The competition is not as strong as it could be so we’ll be looking to get out of the Lory Meagher. A win’s a win to me and if I get a trophy at the end of the year, it’s a good trophy no matter how many teams are in the competition.
“With Fermanagh you don’t get winning too much so, if we could win it, it would be something we’ll always remember for all sorts of reasons.”
Curran and Francie McBrien joined Lisbellaw after their native Lisnaskea folded five years ago. He explains that, while the present is a struggle, the future looks much brighter.
“We’re down to the bare minimum at senior level,” he said.
“But we’ve a few good young fellas coming through this year and at underage level we have nine teams and they are all going rightly.”
