|
I don't fully agree with that take, macca999, as you were within earshot of me, or indeed with your vocal scepticism of Bonner and Co. While I won't name players, there were obvious flaws yesterday, I think talk of Division 4 already is premature. This is a new panel with big personnel losses and a new management team still learning what they have. Yes, the defence struggled and the subs raised eyebrows, but effort and structure can improve quickly at this level. A couple of tighter decisions and better shooting and the narrative looks very different. The upcoming Clare game is massive, no doubt, but it's also a real opportunity to reset rather than panic after just two games.
cillnaile. (Fermanagh) - Posts: 1015 - 02/02/2026 13:59:46
2654587
Link
1
|
|
NFL Division 3 table after the weekends games and things aren't to healthy with division 4 looming! Plenty of opportunities today but to no avail. Who's to blame...players or management or both? Views welcome.
P County P W D PTS
1 Down 3 3 0 6
2 Wexford 3 2 0 4
3 Westmeath 3 2 4
4 Laois 3 1 1 3
5 Limerick 3 1 1 3
6 Sligo 3 1 0 2
7 Clare 3 1 0 2
8 Fermanagh 3 0 0
cillnaile. (Fermanagh) - Posts: 1015 - 15/02/2026 15:15:00
2656549
Link
0
|
|
Very disappointing performance.
Defensively we are shambles. 2 goals conceded from turnovers.
Up front, the full forward line is non existent because we don't kick the ball into them.
Hand pass, hand pass and hand pass.
Where are the Erne Gaels players ?
Not one on the starting team.
And by all accounts, the main coach of Fermanagh, Paul Brennan, has agreed to manage them this season.
Surely this is clear conflict of interest.
Is this the reason they are not playing? Are they being saved for the club?
Surely the county board has to step in
jimmy1 (Fermanagh) - Posts: 18 - 16/02/2026 11:36:05
2656748
Link
0
|
|
Lads, two Fermanagh men coming down to our county this year to take up roles with 2 senior clubs.
Owen Mooney in as coach of Killoe, reigning senior champions.
A team with a good mix of youth and experience, although some of their experienced men are the far side of 35.
Dom Corrigan coming in as manager of Clonguish.
A very young team, who surprisingly made the final in 2023 only to be beaten by a point.
They have won the last 5 or 6 minor championships in a row, so there is talent coming through.
What would be your take on the two lads, and which club has the better man to go for a championship?
Spinx (Longford) - Posts: 1503 - 16/02/2026 12:12:20
2656763
Link
0
|
|
Replying To Spinx: "Lads, two Fermanagh men coming down to our county this year to take up roles with 2 senior clubs.
Owen Mooney in as coach of Killoe, reigning senior champions.
A team with a good mix of youth and experience, although some of their experienced men are the far side of 35.
Dom Corrigan coming in as manager of Clonguish.
A very young team, who surprisingly made the final in 2023 only to be beaten by a point.
They have won the last 5 or 6 minor championships in a row, so there is talent coming through.
What would be your take on the two lads, and which club has the better man to go for a championship?" Dominic Corrigan brought Ballinamore to their first county title in 31 years back in 2021. Dominic would be well regarded in Leitrim for sure and in fairness if he's going across two counties to manage, he definitely must see something there to work with. Ballinamore were a bit like that coming close in years before before winning the championship. I would have happily taken him for the Leitrim county job when it came up in 2021. Don't know anything the other lad.
Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 1842 - 17/02/2026 16:12:04
2657023
Link
1
|
|
A very damaging defeat at weekend, leaves Fermanagh cut adrift at the foot of the table, with Westmeath and Down away to come next 2 weeks, the possibility of being relegated to Division 4 with 2 games left to play is very real now.
The performance was a slight improvement on the Sligo game in terms of shooting, some decent two point scores in first half form O Hanlon, McGurn and McCaffery.
McCaffery was excellent, 4 scores, although could have got a second yellow twice, very lucky to remain on the pitch.
Again poor decision making on the ball and unnecessarily running into contact cost Fermanagh with the goal coming from a poor turnover. Josh Largo Ellis was good, while McDade, Horan and McGurn did well at times in middle sector.
Fermanagh took charge for first 10 minutes after half time, dominated middle sector but then again, Clare allowed waltz through defence for second goal and game over. The last few years this has been a trend, of conceding easy goals, makes games very hard to win.
Opposition teams seem to get their scores alot easier than we do, there is no doubt the Cullens are a huge loss but we have a lack of good man markers, then combined with new rules we cant flood defence and it has meant we shipping alot of scores, then our own attacks very slow and sideways so games become very difficult to win
As Bonner mentioned the places balls on the ground are crucial at this level, Kelly not accurate so will need to rethink this option to kick them if McNally not back. Though Clare gifted us 4 points from breaches and short kick out.
The confidence is definitely low, any young players coming through from underage county squads probably havnt won a championship game either which all adds up on pitch. There is no doubt the squad are trying but effort and fitness only gets you so far at this level, quality is required in every line plus from games to date id say opposition teams find Fermanagh easy to play against, nice young side with lack of experience.
Mullingar on Sunday looks a huge ask, never an easy place to go, Westmeath with Loughlin, Wallace, McCartan, Baker, Connellan, have strong players all over and can see them scoring at least 1-18 if not more, which looks a score beyond our reach currently.
macca999 (Fermanagh) - Posts: 1196 - 17/02/2026 23:13:53
2657059
Link
0
|
|
We are at a low ebb.
Two points in the second half .
Compare the approach of Westmeath when they had the wind.
Pressed up on the kickout, hunted Fermanagh when they had the ball and turned us over time and time again.
Didn't let us build from the back. Their goal came from this.
When Fermanagh had the wind, we retreated, didn't press up on them and they worked scores.
Let be honest as well, the two goals we scored were gifts from Westmeath. Poor defending.
The forward play is just non existent.
Our management look out of their depth.
And now the main trainer of the team is looking at a twelve week ban.
Is their any coaching done on defensive setup?
Do management understand the two point rule?
Especially against a team like Westmeath who have quite a few good two point kickers.
We face Down Saturday night and on current form it could be a very long night in Newry.
jimmy1 (Fermanagh) - Posts: 18 - 24/02/2026 10:31:37
2658312
Link
1
|
|
Replying To jimmy1: "We are at a low ebb.
Two points in the second half .
Compare the approach of Westmeath when they had the wind.
Pressed up on the kickout, hunted Fermanagh when they had the ball and turned us over time and time again.
Didn't let us build from the back. Their goal came from this.
When Fermanagh had the wind, we retreated, didn't press up on them and they worked scores.
Let be honest as well, the two goals we scored were gifts from Westmeath. Poor defending.
The forward play is just non existent.
Our management look out of their depth.
And now the main trainer of the team is looking at a twelve week ban.
Is their any coaching done on defensive setup?
Do management understand the two point rule?
Especially against a team like Westmeath who have quite a few good two point kickers.
We face Down Saturday night and on current form it could be a very long night in Newry." I wasnt at the game but interesting you comment on the passive defending as thats what I was chatting about after the Clare game. Its as though we were happy to conceed 2 pointer chances to them. we didnt engage until they were inside the 40m line. I couldnt undertsand it, even when their main shooter came out to the 40 to look for 2 pointers we let him at it and was the same against wexford. It sound like westmeath kicked scores for fun
Im sad to say it but I agree that this management team is not fit for the job. I mean when you read his bckground team I was wondering what their previous coaching experience was and their CV is pretty thin. I mean Fermanagh will never be world beaters but we deserve more than we are getting and the lads putting in the effort deserve a credible system of play to work to. Its more of a premier league thing but i dont care, I would like to see a change of management now, it didnt do Carlow any harm last year changing mid season, sure they came up and wiped our eye in Brewster Park, the place Bonner said hed make a fortress !! the last win there was Sligo in Tailteann cup !
Down scored 1-29 AWAY in terrible conditions ...youd have to be worried for the Erne men
KeshGFC (Fermanagh) - Posts: 341 - 24/02/2026 14:34:36
2658367
Link
0
|
|
Replying To KeshGFC: "I wasnt at the game but interesting you comment on the passive defending as thats what I was chatting about after the Clare game. Its as though we were happy to conceed 2 pointer chances to them. we didnt engage until they were inside the 40m line. I couldnt undertsand it, even when their main shooter came out to the 40 to look for 2 pointers we let him at it and was the same against wexford. It sound like westmeath kicked scores for fun
Im sad to say it but I agree that this management team is not fit for the job. I mean when you read his bckground team I was wondering what their previous coaching experience was and their CV is pretty thin. I mean Fermanagh will never be world beaters but we deserve more than we are getting and the lads putting in the effort deserve a credible system of play to work to. Its more of a premier league thing but i dont care, I would like to see a change of management now, it didnt do Carlow any harm last year changing mid season, sure they came up and wiped our eye in Brewster Park, the place Bonner said hed make a fortress !! the last win there was Sligo in Tailteann cup !
Down scored 1-29 AWAY in terrible conditions ...youd have to be worried for the Erne men" Has Bonner anyone from Fermanagh in the backroom?Mulligan is Leitrim, O Donnell Blacklion, Paul Brennan Leitrim/Donegal, AIdan McCarron Tyrone
They would know the fermanagh club scene but its all outside men
FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2918 - 24/02/2026 15:59:05
2658397
Link
0
|
|
I think its a combination of not having the players & the management team been out of their depth. Fermanagh went through a fairly good period between 2015 to 2020 & were competing with a lot of big counties. if you look at the Fermanagh team at the minute compared to that period then the only players which might get into the team is Joe McDade & Josh Largo Ellis. There is players on that Fermanagh team now that are in their early 30s & couldn't get on a Fermanagh squad when they were in their prime at 25.
Erne12 (Fermanagh) - Posts: 84 - 24/02/2026 16:35:48
2658403
Link
0
|