Allianz Football League Division Two: Fermanagh v Clare (tomorrow, 3pm, Brewster Park)
FERMANAGH have three games to save their skins in Division Two after a three-game losing streak that has left them looking up at the rest.
A narrow defeat to promotion contenders Galway wasn’t the end of the world, but the nature of the on-the-road reversals in Cork and Kildare will have been the greatest cause of concern for Pete McGrath heading into tomorrow’s crunch home game against Clare.
Against the Rebels, they simply didn’t get out of the traps and the game was as good as gone by half-time. It was most unlike the Ernemen under McGrath’s stewardship.
Fast forward a week and things got worse in Newbridge against a Kildare side who had lost to Fermanagh’s fellow second-tier strugglers Derry seven days previous.
Normally renowned for their defensive organisation, the green shirts were all over the place as the Lilywhites netted four times.
Three of the goals came in a 14-minute spell during the first half, with Tommy Moolick fisting home a dropping ball while completely unmarked and Niall Kelly able to capitalise on a quick free that allowed him to effectively finish the game.
Fermanagh were caught by another quick free early in the second half that allowed Daniel Flynn to finish the game off and leave the Ulster side wondering what had just happened.
“Against that kind of opposition, you can’t expect to do that and win,” admitted attacking wing-back Aidan Breen.
“We were giving as much as they did, but the goals were the difference in the end. The way the goals were conceded, they were very soft. You have to give Kildare credit, they played well, but the goals we conceded, I’ve seen them back on the DVD and they were completely avoidable.”
Such basic mistakes cannot be tolerated if they are to have any chance of avoiding the drop to Division Three, though their final fixtures all look winnable for Fermanagh.
After tomorrow’s game, they travel to Navan to face Andy McEntee’s unpredictable Meath side before finishing up at home against Ulster rivals Derry.
McGrath has rung the changes for the visit of the Bannermen, who are on the fringes of the promotion places thanks to wins over Cork and Down, and a draw in Derry.
Thomas Treacy replaces Chris Snow in goals, Kane Connor comes in for James McMahon at corner-back while Declan McCusker is replaced by Conor P Murphy.
Barry Mulrone starts at centre-back in place of the experienced Ryan McCluskey, with Ryan Lyons occupying the wing-forward slot filled by Mulrone to good effect against the Lilywhites.
Clare must wait to see whether they can call upon influential midfielder Gary Brennan, as the 2016 Allstar nominee was involved with All-Ireland club hurling finalists Ballyea at Croke Park yesterday.
Brennan found himself in a similar predicament when his county faced Derry on the opening day of the League, and on that occasion he lined out at Celtic Park on the Sunday despite featuring in Ballyea’s All-Ireland semi-final win over St Thomas’s in Thurles the previous evening.
His inclusion would be a huge boost for boss Colm Collins as Clare bid to keep alive their hopes of back-to-back promotions.
Fermanagh’s focus is very much on the other end of the table but, in a division where one win could realistically propel the Ernemen into mid-table, all is far from lost.
“You can just look at the results in the division, everybody’s beating everybody,” added Breen.
“Just look at Down - we beat them and they turned around with two great wins and now they’re in the hunt for promotion. That’s how tight the division is.”
Pete McGrath’s men are edging into must-win territory as the League season draws to a close. Without a victory since trouncing his native county on the opening, tomorrow would be the perfect time to get the show back on the road. Fermanagh by one.
Fermanagh: T Treacy; M Jones, C Cullen, K Connor; C P Murphy, B Mulrone, A Breen; E Donnelly, L Cullen; P McCusker, R Jones, R Lyons; E Courtney, S Quigley, T Corrigan
Clare: TBC
Allianz: for more information visit www.allianz.ie
