Aidan Breen, Fermanagh, in action against Mark Shields, Armagh
A one point defeat is always hard to take and experienced Roslea and Fermanagh defender Niall Cassidy agrees that it now makes Fermanagh’s home clash with Laois this Sunday an even bigger game.
“They put it up to Tyrone so we know exactly the sort of test they are going to bring to Brewster Park on Sunday,” said the defender. “Tyrone seem to be running away with the league and have promotion in sight already, but for us its taking it game by game.
“We have a fine record at Brewster Park and we know the supporters are always brilliant at the venue. Laois beat us by a point in 2014 in the Qualifier so we know we must pay them back now. It’s going to be a very close league with so many teams stuck on two points it just shows us that every game is now huge.”
The Fermanagh side who thus far have played three and lost two will know that Laois will be well up for the win as they are occupy the bottom two spaces with Pete McGrath’s side.
Cassidy admits Saturday night’s defeat to Armagh was hard to take, “Losing is never nice, but to lose it in injury time after doing so well to get back into the game is even harder for us to take. A lot of the boys were down and disappointed afterwards in the dressing room, but Pete McGrath has told us that we have to move on and now concentrate on Laois.”
Armagh were also rounded on by many observers for being too aggressive and Meath referee Cormac Reilly failed to get a hold of the game throughout the 70 minutes.
“Armagh are Armagh, Kieran McGeeney has it well drilled into them that it’s a win at all costs approach and sadly we were the wrong side of the scoreline on Saturday night.
“They seem to bully players and at the end of the day they got the two points and we didn’t.”
The senior club football league season gets underway in seven week time and with Roslea appointing Tyrone native Brian Gormley to the hot seat Cassidy explains that he is looking forward to working with the Carrickmore native.
“I haven’t actually met him yet, but I know Roslea met up for the first time last Friday night and by all accounts everyone was really impressed. Whenever Roslea have training on it often hits on the same dates as Fermanagh training so I tend not to make it.”
The experienced back has impressed this season and once again he will be called upon to stop the threat of the likes of Donie Kingston on Sunday afternoon.