Allianz Football League Division Three round three: Fermanagh v Down (Sunday, Ederney, 1pm, live on BBC iPlayer)
THERE were differing fortunes for Fermanagh and Down in their respective second-round fixtures a couple of weeks ago, and whether or not that has an impact on performances when they meet in Ederney on Sunday remains to be seen.
Down came back from the dead in Páirc Esler, where they trailed Antrim by five points with four minutes left on the clock, but won by the minimum, 2-18 to 2-17.
Meanwhile, a kick of the ball saw Fermanagh lose out by a solitary point to Offaly in Glenisk O’Connor Park.
The Ernemen could well have headed into the break with two wins from two and on level terms with Down, had Luke Flanagan’s first-half goal stood, or had they not let Offaly back in after Garvan Jones put his side a point to the good late on.
But Kieran Donnelly’s men allowed Offaly to score twice and nick the 1-9 to 1-8 victory. That was on the back of a comfortable first-round 0-15 to 0-8 win when Fermanagh made short work of O’Byrne Cup champions Longford, with a dominant second-half display – despite hitting a lot of wides.
Down, meanwhile, went to Thurles and beat Tipperary 2-11 to 1-11 to start their campaign.
On paper then, Conor Laverty’s side have the momentum of results and expectation from a swell of supporters who craved something to shout about for so long. But midfielder Niall Donnelly doesn’t see it quite like that.
“I wouldn’t say we’re confident, we just went about our business against Tipperary but we got out of jail free against Antrim,” Donnelly told the Irish News when asked if that was the feeling in the camp following the week’s break.
“We’re really disappointed with that performance. Antrim didn’t surprise us, we just didn’t have the same intensity as we had against Tipperary.”
It’s another Ulster derby tomorrow and while Fermanagh and Down haven’t met in the League since 2017, a lot of the players, including Donnelly, would know each other through the Sigerson Cup.
“That familiarity can help you know what to expect from some of their players, but on the flip side, they know our players too.”
One player Fermanagh won’t have to worry about is Barry O’Hagan. The Clonduff clubman was stretchered off the Páirc Esler pitch during the Antrim game with a cruciate ligament injury that has ruled him out for the rest of the season and leaves a big hole to fill in the Down forward line.
“Barry is a good friend of mine and I’m massively disappointed for him. He had been playing really well for us, but, as he said himself, he has time now to spend some time with his kids,” said Donnelly who is all too familiar with career-threatening injuries having almost hung up his boots for Down in 2019.
With that blow a harsh fact of life, Laverty has other players who have proven their worth so far.
Saval’s Pat Havern scored 1-3 in Thurles and two well-taken points against Antrim. Andrew Gilmore hit 1-4 against Antrim and Liam Kerr, Odhran Murdock and Warrenpoint’s Donagh McAleenan are amongst those who have been putting in the hard yards.
Fermanagh have threats of their own in Derrygonnelly Harps midfielder Ryan Jones, and veteran Sean Quigley. Che Cullen returned to inter-county football this season. He played well against Longford, but while he picked up a hamstring injury and was absent for the Offaly game, Cullen should be fit tomorrow.
In terms of Down, if the rumour floating around of the return of Kilcoo’s Shealan Johnston this Sunday - one Donnelly made no comment on – is true, it would be a big boost for them.
