Fermanagh boss Pete McGrath says he's hoping to hold on to his more seasoned campaigners for 2016.

The Down man, who was recently confirmed as Ulster manager for next month's M Donnelly Inter-Provincial championships, has called in several new faces to his provincial squad for next year and knows that the Erne County will have plenty to live up to having gained league promotion and reached the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals this past season.

"At this stage Ryan McCluskey and Niall Cassidy are battle-hardened warriors at this stage but neither of them have indicated to me that they don't intend to continue," McGrath told The Irish News.

"We had a players' meeting last week to get everyone together and talk about things and at that meeting there was no indication of retirements or unavailability. Some of the older hands mightn't be too keen on doing an awful lot this side of Christmas - they have to look after their bodies obviously and you can't train a 33 year-old the same way as you'd train a 23-year-old so you have to make allowances for that.

"I'd be more than hopeful that all the players who did so well in 2015 will be available for the coming season."

He added: "I've looked at a lot of football over the summer and we have a provisional squad of 43 or 44 players and there are eight or nine who'll be coming into the provisional panel.

"Hopefully they will make a favourable impression whenever we resume training. You have to continually be looking for players - Fermanagh is a small enough county so if there are players out there who can make a valuable contribution you have to get them in."

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