 Corrigan says the current crop are Fermanagh's best ever team |
Fermanagh football boss Dominic Corrigan reckons the departure of the talented Rory Gallagher from the Erneside squad has boosted the panel.
At the time, Gallagher's decision to quit the squad in the autumn seemed like a huge blow for Fermanagh football.
After all, the Belleek man had produced record-breaking feats in last summer's Ulster Championship.
However, Dominic Corrigan, looking ahead to this weekend's Allianz National Football League semi-final against Tyrone, feels that Gallagher's departure has enabled other forwards to shine.
"A lot of the other forwards have come out of their shell and played like they have never played before in the county jersey," asserts Corrigan.
"Tom Brewster, Kieran Donnelly and our captain and leader, Raymond Gallagher are all playing great football this season and showing real quality".
There's no doubt that Corrigan is talking up his team's ability in advance of Sunday's Croke Park game.
"They have to be considered the best Fermanagh team for a long number of years.
 if we are still there with 10 minutes left maybe we can pull off this sensational result |
"Hopefully on Sunday, they can go out and show their real quality".
No doubt, Corrigan is trying to build self-belief in a team after the flop of last summer when the team folded when it really mattered against Armagh and Kerry.
Corrigan hasn't employed a sports psychologist to try and instil more self-belief in the side.
He jokes that the addition of Martin McElkennon to the backroom staff this season has added steel to the team.
"Martin's contribution has been important.
"He had three years working with Eamon Coleman in Derry and Eamon Coleman is the best sports psychologist I know".
Certainly Fermanagh have shown real resilience in claiming their place in the last four.
"In the last three or four matches, in the last 10 minutes the games could have been won by either side.
 Rory Gallagher quit the panel in the autumn |
"However, the Erne County came through so I would feel that we are winning games this year that in the past, we weren't winning.
"We've had five wins on the bounce against teams that had good track records in the league or championship, the likes of Meath, Mayo, Kildare, Sligo and Cavan".
But while Corrigan is doing everything in his power to boost the confidence of his own players, he acknowledges that Sunday is a stiffer test than encountered in Division 1B.
"Sunday is our first big test since the championship last year and gives the players a chance to show that they have come on since then.
"Tyrone are probably the top team in the country at the minute.
"And if I had a choice, I would have looked elsewhere for opposition in the semi-final".
The Fermanagh boss says that a good start will be imperative.
"If Tyrone get a head of steam built up, they will be a very difficult team to stop.
We have fellows as far away as Carlow and Galway at the moment |
"But if we are still there with 10 minutes left maybe we can pull off this sensational result, that people are talking about".
Fermanagh's displays this year are even more laudable when one considers that the only time that the full squad gets together is on match days.
Of the 30-strong panel, only 14 players are based in Fermanagh during the week which means that training operations have been set up in Belfast and Dublin.
"We have fellows as far away as Carlow and Galway at the moment.
"When John Maughan was in charge, he decided to haul them up to Fermanagh for the training.
"The boys put in a tremendous effort but it was found to be counter-productive because with all the travelling, the boys were too tired to go out and perform".
Tiredness shouldn't be a problem on Sunday.
The Fermanagh boss is leaving little to chance in terms of preparation and is hoping his charges will get a chance for a Croke Park walkabout on Saturday evening in advance of the game.
MMIX
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