Fermanagh’s shock exit from the Tailteann Cup means that some team bosses will get their wish of starting into the Seniolr Football League (SFL) pretty seamlessly.

But Erne Gaels boss Declan Bonner is not one of those, as he was hoping the Erne County would go all the way to the final so that some of his “five or six players” who are carrying knocks would have time to recover.

And, like many, the ex-Donegal boss was stunned at the extent of Fermanagh’s second-half capitulation to a resurgent Antrim.

That result now means that Bonner and Erne Gaels will be facing a potentially stronger Belnaleck who could have Che and Lee Cullen along with Darragh McGurn and Kane Connors to power their efforts.

The affable Bonner has certainly settled well into managing a club outside his own county but confesses that he had planned to take a well-deserved break before a few Erne Gaels men approached him just after last Christmas and the challenge was just too good to pass up.

“I was keeping an eye on the Fermanagh and Antrim match and was happy at half-time when they were winning by 0-08 to 0-02 and I thought if they win, we will have three weeks to prepare for the league and for our knocks to heal.

“I could not believe it when I heard the final result but we had a good block of five games and were in no panic to go into the league.

“I was hoping that we would get a few weeks had Fermanagh gone on so guys could recover and we have Belnaleck in Belleek on Friday night."

Bonner’s arrival in the county in early January created a few headlines at a quiet time in the media.

“I had no intention of doing anything this year as I had just put in 10 years managing Donegal minor, U-21 and senior sides and I am club chairman of Na Rossa and managed them to promotion and the junior championship last year.

“My plan was to get out even last year as we could not get anyone to manage Na Rossa last year, but we had a very good year.

“I thought that was it when I stepped away from Na Rossa last November but a few of the Erne Gaels boys came and spoke to me and they were very persuasive and also the challenge of doing something outside your own county for the first time was quite enticing too.

“They are a good honest bunch of lads, and I was impressed with the set-up.

“The standard of football and facilities in Fermanagh are very impressive everywhere you go.

“It is a good standard, but we did not have the inter-county players, but it will be interesting now going into the league proper with all the inter-county players back.”

And the new set-up in Fermanagh has energised Bonner.

“Yes, it is a new challenge with a new group that I did not know and did not work with at any level and with Paul Brennan coming on board that was a big help too.

“It has been a few good months, and I am just looking forward to when the real football starts and then getting ready for the championship towards the end of August.”

And he does not feel any extra pressure to get a long-awaited county title for the Gaels who have lost the last two county finals on the trot.

“No there is no pressure at all.

“Whatever happened in the past is just that and all that we can do is prepare the team as best we can and that is our goal.

“We take every game on its merit and there is no pressure to deliver but naturally winning a county title would be the ultimate goal.

“But there is a long road to get there and it will have to be step by step but there is no pressure.”

The immediate challenge is Belnaleck on Friday and that is “when you will see the real quality on show, and I am looking forward to that".