Pete McGrath believes an Ulster final is a realistic possibility
For a man who has been immersed in football his whole life 2014 will bring something new for Pete McGrath.
It is the first time the two time All Ireland winning manager will make the foray into county management outside his beloved Down.
He has been involved with Down teams, between minor senior and under 21 for the best part of 20 years. A former teacher in St Colman’s Newry he has also had a hand in a number of MacRory Cup and Hogan Cup successes while he has also been busy on the club scene.
So the question had to be asked of McGrath, why now and why Fermanagh?
“I had approaches over the years to manage other county teams but it never felt right for me. The opportunity arose now to manage Fermanagh and I thought it was the right time. I think no matter what the sport if you are sports person you want to be involved at the highest level and I felt if I declined this chance I would come to regret it in the he future.”
And the opportunity to manage Fermanagh was something that came about in a bit of a whirlwind for the Down man;
“Very quickly indeed. I was contacted last Monday, met with Fermanagh officials on Wednesday and the appointment was made on Thursday. And yes that does seem very quick but I can assure you that I gave it serious thought.”
McGrath is certainly a deep thinker and from speaking to him it is clear that he lives and breaths Gaelic Football and while he admits that he has been around management a long time he exudes an optimism and freshness that belies his years;
“I think in everything that you do there are times when you question yourself and that is true of everyone but I would have a big enthusiasm for the game and the challenge here in Fermanagh is exciting and I am really looking forward to getting started.”
And that enthusiasm is something he will want replicated in his players for the forthcoming season. McGrath makes the point time and again during the interview that commitment, enthusiasm and hard work are a two way street;
“I need to see all those things from the players. If we put in good work and if we can all go in the one direction then we can do something. The template for success is there and we can see that from the successful teams and we have to have everyone buying into that template.”
In terms of goals McGrath does not rule out promotion or a trip to the Ulster final as unrealistic ambitions but he was clear that he will be measuring success by what the players put into the year and as a result how much they get out;
“I think success can be relative. Only one team can win the All Ireland and only one team can win an Ulster title but there are other measures of success and I will be wanting Fermanagh to reach their potential, whatever that might be.”
Next week McGrath hopes to have trials up and running and he plans to have his panel in place as soon as possible making the point that he wants the ‘best players in the county playing for Fermanagh’.
“I am not coming into the job blind but I am coming in from a distance so I am going to have to learn about the Fermanagh players quickly. We will be holding trials and I will be speaking to people within Fermanagh who know about Fermanagh football and who I can trust.”
The former Down All Ireland winning manager will find himself in strange surroundings over the coming weeks and months but he is determined to bring everything he can to the role of Fermanagh manager and he certainly believes that if his desire and enthusiasm are matched that Fermanagh can achieve their potential this season.