Declan Bonner was already turning his thoughts towards managing Fermanagh after his tenure as Erne Gaels boss ended with an Ulster club SFC semi-final defeat to Kilcoo last Saturday.

The 1992 Donegal All-Ireland SFC winner guided the Belleek club to back-to-back New York Cups over the last two seasons, but now faces a fresh challenge as county team manager, having taken over from Kieran Donnelly in September.

“I’m really looking forward to that challenge and we get ready now, starting off with the McKenna Cup early in the year, then the National League," Bonner told reporters after the provincial semi-final at the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds.

“It’s been busy this last while but I’m enjoying it. We’re ready for the challenge.

“County football has changed since I was with Donegal but I’ve still been involved with clubs over the last three years.”

Reflecting on his time in charge of Erne Gaels, the Rossa man added: “It’s been a brilliant journey and, to be quite honest, beyond our wildest expectations to go back-to-back.

“Winning the (club’s) first match in Ulster against Kingscourt and coming here on a semi-final night in Ulster - that’s new territory for the club. They’re a great bunch of lads, a great club.”

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