Four of Fermanagh's most experienced campaigners have called time on their inter-county careers.

Tommy McElroy, Mark Murphy, Paul Ward and Eamon Maguire have all confirmed to Pete McGrath that they won't be returning in 2015. Also unavailable to the manager next season will be Stephen McElrone (injured), Brian Cox (work commitments) and Ronan Ormsby (exam-tied).

"Tommy McElroy has retired, Mark Murphy is heading back at some stage to Australia, Paul Ward made it known early on that he wouldn't be committing and Eamon Maguire has intimated that his county career is over and, as you know, Barry (Owens) has also retired," McGrath explained to the Impartial Reporter.

"I spoke to Eamon a few weeks ago and he took a number of things into account and felt he couldn't commit and that now was maybe the time to pull the curtain down, although having watched him (for St. Patrick's) on Sunday against Roslea I thought he was excellent and hopefully he will re-consider.

"Tommy McElroy was one of our more consistent performers last season but he lives in Dublin and he has injury problems.

"I respect that at the end of the day a player has to decide, given the condition of the injuries, whether he can continue to commit playing at a very intense level and if it is something that is maybe going to impact later in his life then you've got to make the decision that is going to be sensible for your own well-being.

"Those were the factors that Tommy had to consider and think seriously about."

McGrath added: "These are people who will be missed and will have to be replaced and we'll be looking to bring as many as ten or 11 new players into the squad to make up the shortfall that we have suffered.

"At the end of it all, you try to unearth what is out there and you try to get this squad finalised as quickly as possible and get them all in working and push them on."

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