Fermanagh Captain John Duffy’s doubtful for Sunday’s game
TODAY, March 31, Fermanagh hurlers have a date with destiny at Brewster Park (3pm) when they take on bottom of the tablers, Monaghan in the final round of fixtures in Division 3A of the NHL.
And, they will be looking for a win to ensure they are not involved in a dog fight, with either Monaghan or Tyrone, or both, to avoid dropping back to Division 3B, having just come out of that division last season.
At the start of the season, things had looked so rosy for Fermanagh after a sparkling home win over Tyrone, and as joint manager, Sean Duffy suggested, subsequent defeats were by the narrowest of margins.
“For instance, last Saturday against Fingal (1-16 to 2-10), it was another hard luck story. The boys put in a great performance, and they just fell short. There was nothing to be ashamed of. They could have won as well as beaten.”
So, from a situation where Fermanagh, and not Donegal are sitting at the top of the table, Fermanagh are now joint second from bottom with Tyrone on two points, with Monaghan, Sunday’s opposition, below them without a point.
“It’s win or bust”, Sean suggested. “But, we are playing OK. We’re doing nothing wrong. OK, we were looking for a league title, and now we’re trying to avoid relegation. It’s just there’s nothing coming out at the other end by way of results.
“So, we definitely need to win on Sunday to give us a kick-off for the Lory Meagher competition in May.”
Last week, the good news for Sean Duffy and his joint manager, Seamus McCusker was the return of exam-tied Declan McGarry, and midfielder, Barry Smyth (’he would have been a bit ring rusty, but started and finished and the game would have brought him on’.)
On the minus side, Fermanagh will be missing Brendan McGarry and Rory Porteous who have a pre-arranged trip to Lourdes.
On top of that, the management will be keeping their fingers crossed that team captain, John Duffy’s bang on the knee that was previously operated on will have cleared up, and likewise, Karl Kehoe and Daniel Teague (flu).
There are longer-term injuries to others, among them Mark Slevin (’he’s coming on well’), Shane Mulholland (hamstring) and Francie McBrien (broken collar bone).