With the dust settling on the Fermanagh’s NFL Division Two campaign the overriding feeling for all Fermanagh Gaels may be one of what might have been.

For Fermanagh will rue missed opportunities that would have kept them in Division Two rather than a swift return to Division Three.

None more so than the Cork loss where Fermanagh had led for 72 minutes before a sucker punch goal.

Even in the draw against Meath, Fermanagh were in a position to win that game as well.

For the majority of the league games the Erne men were highly competitive and played some decent football.

But mistakes against quality opposition hurt them like in the second half against Donegal and the nightmare against Louth.

Fermanagh’s gameplan of bringing their keeper out the field is a risky one and puts the pressure on the players to make the right decisions and execute the skills at a high level time and time again.

When this is not done, the results were devastating for Fermanagh.

The Louth game epitomised this and many may want to use it as a stick to beat Fermanagh and their tactics with but it was a freak result.

What was more impressive was the way the players bounced back against Cavan.

The games against Cavan and Kildare in particular as well as periods against Donegal, Armagh and Meath showed that Fermanagh were well able to compete in Division Two. But with the higher the quality of opposition, the smallest of mistakes are punished.

But despite relegations, hope springs and they ended the campaign on a positive note and just did not roll over.

Captain Declan McCusker (pictured) has led by example from wing back and has been their most consistent performer in the league.

Sean Cassidy has impressed alongside Garvan Jones in the full forward line and if they can continue to click Fermanagh will be a danger for most teams.

Fionan O’Brien has brought real energy to the Fermanagh side anytime he has played and has really put his hand up for a starting berth come championship time in April.

And with the likes of Johnny Cassidy, Darragh McGurn, Ryan Lyons, Aidan Breen and James McMahon coming back into contention it strengthens the squad at the right time of the year.

Armagh will be a huge challenge in the Ulster Championship and it will be all Kieran Donnelly and his troops will be focussed on over the coming weeks.

The league has given Fermanagh plenty of things to learn and build on. Now it’s time to put them to the test, first in the Ulster Championship and then in whatever competition they compete in after that.

For report and reaction to Fermanagh’s win over Cavan in the final round of the Allianz NFL Division Two see pages 60&61.