LOOKING AHEAD… Pete McGrath
Picture credit: Oliver McVeigh / SPORTSFILE
NEW Fermanagh manager, Pete McGrath, is looking forward to the McKenna Cup getting underway this Sunday when his side host St Mary’s at Brewster Park.
The Down man revealed that the players have been ‘training very hard’ but admitted that he was anxious to have a look at his squad under the glare of a competitive game.
“I think every manager values the McKenna Cup in a sense that is a way to educate yourself. In the case of a new manager to a team, like myself, it is vital. It is a competitive environment and will tell us a lot about the attitude, ability and potential of the squad.”
McGrath expressed that he has been very happy with what he has seen to date from the Fermanagh players;
“I have to say in fairness to the players they have been preparing properly, training hard and working hard and at this point we can ask no more of them.”
The two time All Ireland winning manager is going into the campaign without a host of experienced players. Retirement and unavailability has robbed him of Niall Bogue, Marty McGrath, James Sherry, Daryl Keenan, Damian Kelly, Chris Breen and Ronan Gallagher. But he also explained that from the players he expects to pick from later on the season he is also missing a raft of bodies.
Ryan McCluskey and Barry Owens will join the squad later while Brian Cox is recovering from injury while Eoin Donnelly is recovering from surgery to his hand. Ryan Jones meanwhile is only available for the first game due to exam commitments.
But McGrath believes that such a long list of absentees from last year’s squad should be seen as a chance for others to shine and assume the role of leaders on the field;
“Other players and less experienced players will be given the opportunity to play and show leadership and that is important. A team evolves and you need new people assuming leadership roles.”
With three games down for decision in the league section of the McKenna Cup the Erne boss is confident that he will learn plenty about his side in the ten days that those games take place.
“I would like to think that after the three games there would be a much clearer picture of what we can achieve. We hope that it is a positive competition in terms of what we get out of it and that it will set us all up with a better expectation of what to expect in the league.”
And turning his attention briefly to the league McGrath feels that regardless of the standard of the division that league football is always difficult;
“I think that the league a team finds itself in reflects its ability. Division three is not going to be easy and I think that looking at the teams any one team could beat another on any one day so we will have to be playing at or near our best to pick up points.”
But before the league is negotiated Fermanagh have a very important McKenna Cup campaign to get under their belts and there is much for the manager to yet learn about the charges he has at his disposal.