Derry’s Patsy Bradley and Ciaran McFaul pressure Conal Jones of Fermanagh during Sundays match at Owenbeg. Picture: Margaret McLaughlin
Ulster champions Monaghan are the visitors to Brewster Park this evening (Wednesday) for the third round of the Dr McKenna Cup.
Two defeats have almost certainly killed off Fermanagh’s chances of advancing in the competition so this game with the Malachy O’Rourke managed side will be the last competitive match prior to the onset of the NFL in early February.
This evening’s game will again see a rejigged Fermanagh lineout on duty since a number of the panel have yet to be given a run out over the opening two fixtures and in any case injuries continue to rule out a clutch of the more experienced players.
Latest to depart for the immediate future were defenders Marty O’Brien and Barry Mulrone who failed to finish last Sunday against Derry.
The opening game of the competition with St Mary’s was something of a non event if only for the fact that in the fog enshrouded conditions there was only a vague appreciation of what was actually happening out on the pitch.
But big weakness of the side in this game was the ease with which the student side carved out goal opportunities.
Last Sunday’s second round clash with Derry was another matter entirely as far as the defensive performance was concerned. Here there was to be a highly effective smothering operation which did a fine job in containing the Derry attack.
Fermanagh slipped to a four point defeat but in the circumstances this was an encouraging team display in many aspects and as such there will be optimism that if it is built on then a strong showing against Monaghan can be delivered.
Not all plus however and the lack of an adequate scoring spread in attack is an urgent problem. Over the two games so far it has more or less been a Quigley brothers monopoly so clearly there has to be more input from others in the forward line.
A win of course over the provincial holders would be more than welcome but at the very least another resilient display would further boost the preparation for the challenge in the league.
Monaghan who lost out to Derry in round one,bounced back with an emphatic win over St Mary’s last Sunday.
They too have been using the competition as a trial ground to take a look at their emerging talent and manager O’Rourke after his team’s win on Sunday against St Mary’s commented, “We had a competitive game against Derry in round one which we lost by a few points and then beat St Mary’s, we were keen to get a win under our belt.
“We have been fielding a fairly experimental side, we had a good look at a few more of the lads today and we will have a look at another few against Fermanagh as we work towards the league.
So we are looking forward to the Fermanagh game and hope to have another competitive win.”
Fermanagh so far have also been in experimental mode and a number of the more seasoned players have yet to make an appearance, Tommy McElroy, Tomás Corrigan and Ryan McCluskey among those unavailable for a variety of reasons.
Of the younger brigade Conor Mulligan, Ciaran McBrien and Conor Foy are among those who have yet to feature.