FERMANAGH will be boosted by the return of the Cullen twins, Che and Lee, for their 2023 campaign, Erne boss Kieran Donnelly has revealed.
Neither has featured for Fermanagh since Covid-19 arrived on these shores in 2020, with Lee having relocated to Australia months before the pandemic hit while 2018 Allstar nominee Che was based in Budapest for work purposes.
Che did travel back and forth from the Hungarian capital to play for the Ernemen, but he has since returned home and is looking ahead to the start of Belnaleck’s club championship campaign next month, with Lee expected back in Ireland before Christmas.
The Erne County have brought through a number of talented young players in the time between, but having the experience of the 28-year-olds to call upon is great news ahead of next year’s campaign.
“They’re both onboard and very keen,” said Donnelly, who was part of Peter Canavan’s Fermanagh management team when the Cullens first came into the county set-up 10 years ago.
“Something we were missing, notably in the Cavan game [in the Tailteann Cup], was physicality with match-ups and they bring that naturally, as well as that bit of experience you can always do with.
“They’re a big bonus for us for next season. They can play in numerous positions, the way the game has evolved now, you’re constantly moving players from position to position, but they are county footballers in the way they live their lives, so they’ll not find the move back that daunting because they’re always in great condition.
“I feel they’ll fit back in seamlessly.”
As for the AFL-bound Ultan Kelm, meanwhile, Donnelly is keeping an open mind.
Aussie Rules outfit Freemantle Dockers had planned to list the Erne Gaels ace as a category B rookie this year, until the recurrence of a hip injury put his move Down Under on the long finger.
Freemantle’s executive general manager of football, Peter Bell, said at the time that, once Kelm had recovered, “the plan is for him to travel to Perth next year for a trial ahead of a permanent move and Category B listing for 2023”.
The 22-year-old returned to competitive action with Fermanagh during the Tailteann Cup, and while Donnelly would love to have him available to the Ernemen next year, he insists Kelm’s future is very much in his own hands.
“Ultan’s a supreme athlete,” he said.
“At the minute he’s injury-free, which he hasn’t been in a long time, and he’s training away with his club, who are going really well.
“Ultan loves playing for his club and loves playing for Fermanagh. No young fella would turn down the opportunity to become a professional athlete, but he is very much enjoying being out and playing.
“If it means being with us for the forseeable future, I get the impression Ultan would be happy with that.
“The top teams have their game-changers, the Cliffords and the O’Sheas of this world, and Ultan is one of them. If he’s with us, we’re in a better place. He’s a very modest young lad who would fit in anywhere, so it would be massive for us if he stayed.
“From a selfish point of view we’d love to have Ultan with us for the next 10 years, but whatever happens in the future will be down to him.”
