Erne Gaels captain Ryan Lyons has waited a long time to savour county championship success, but having finally reached the summit, he is determined to make the most of what he believes is a golden era in Belleek.
Despite coming from a family steeped in footballing tradition — and despite his own standing as one of Fermanagh’s most accomplished players — Lyons was 31 before he collected his first senior championship medal.
Now 33, he prepares to lead the Gaels into yet another showdown with old rivals Derrygonnelly, with a third consecutive county title within reach and a decade-long rivalry providing the backdrop.
Lyons’ pedigree is unquestionable. His older brother Shane was a star for club and county, his late brother Mark an outstanding midfielder, and his brother Damian also a gifted player.
His two grand‑uncles, Tommy and Jimmy Gallagher, played for the famous cross‑border club Corlea for Donegal and New York, while his uncle Jim Ferguson was a stalwart Erne Gaels defender for many years.
It is remarkable that such a well‑conditioned athlete is now 33 — and even more remarkable that he only won his first county medal at 31.
But Derrygonnelly had a lot to do with that famine, Lyons admits, as he reflects on a rivalry that has shaped the last decade.
“Yes, they beat us late in the 2016 final, and we had a big lead in the quarter‑final the following year and they reeled us in. Both clubs went on different trajectories after that — the Harps won five in a row and we were relegated to intermediate football in 2020.”
Two key factors sparked Erne Gaels’ revival: Seamie Ryder “taking the bull by the horns”, and Brian Mullin returning from London.
The Gaels beat Devenish with a last‑minute goal in 2021 Fermanagh intermediate final, and in his victory speech Mullin — then 36 — told supporters that Erne Gaels would soon be back at the top of Fermanagh football.
It proved prophetic. They have contested the last four senior county finals, winning the last two in 2024 and 2025, and now chase an historic three‑in‑a‑row.
“The ship was steadied, and we’ve really been in seven county finals when you include the SFL Division One final in 2022 and the intermediate title. Success breeds success,” he said.
“I played in one final before I was 30, and maybe the young lads don’t appreciate it yet — but they will when they look back.
“I won my second title at 31 and it didn’t look good for a long part of my career. You appreciate it more when you get older. You know how long it can take to get back there.
“There are lads who’ve been in all six county finals — Ultan Kelm, Aogan Kelm, Odhran Johnston, Dan McCann — they’ve known practically nothing else.
“That doesn’t happen often, but it’s massive for their confidence. Success breeds success, and you can never get enough of it.
“But it hasn’t happened by chance. A lot of hard work has gone into it.”
Lyons says the intermediate title was a turning point.
“That win was huge. We could have gone either way — it could have been a slippery slope.
“It was a massive psychological boost. Declan Bonner gave us extra belief when he and Paul Brennan came in in 2022.
“We’ve been on the rack and nearly beaten so many times, but we’ve always come back. This is a very resilient bunch. It would be easy to give up — but now we have a golden era, and it’s important we maximise it.”
