Fermanagh need to learn the hard lessons for next season

It only added to their disappointment following relegation from Division Two earlier on in the year.

After opening with a draw to Meath, at Páirc Tailteann, in late January, Fermanagh went on to land the first of two league wins against Kildare at Brewster Park.

Goals from Declan McCusker and Seán Cassidy secured a four-point win with goalkeeper Ross Bogue also saving a Kildare penalty late on.

A convincing loss to Donegal came before a clash against Cork, that most Erne fans will feel cost them their place in the division, as substitute Maurice Shanley netted a late sucker punch in Ederney to snatch the points.

A win away to Cavan, with forward Garvan Jones scoring 1-08, on the final day wasn’t enough after a loss against Armagh and a heavy defeat to Louth in Ardee as Fermanagh slipped back into Division Three.

There were plenty of positives to take from the league campaign into an exciting home quarter-final meeting with Kieran McGeeney’s Armagh in the Ulster Championship.

However, after losing Ultán Kelm to a black card, three first-half goals would kill off any chances of progression at the expense of the Orchard County who would go on to lose the Ulster final to Jim McGuinness’ Donegal on penalties in Clones.

Wicklow, Carlow, Fermanagh and Laois would be drawn in Group Three of the Tailteann Cup as Kieran Donnelly’s side eased past the first hurdle with second-half goals via Cassidy and a brace from substitute Conor Love enough to see off Wicklow. Conor McShea’s major moments before halftime at Netwatch Cullen Park was the difference against Carlow, with seven points coming from the backline and three from the bench, in a 1-13 to 0-13 win and it would be three from three in the group as another McShea goal and two more from Callum Jones sealed top spot against Laois by the narrowest of margins in Longford.

The group stages showed that Fermanagh could mix it up with an open and expansive game plan or else grind it out against defensive-minded teams.

The strength of the Erne bench was also evident in the three games as those introduced made telling contributions in all three games.

It brought an optimistic air for the home tie, in the quarter-final, which was their reward for topping the group.

And it all looked to be plain sailing as Fermanagh led by six points at the break.

But there will be lessons to be learned from the second half as another late goal against Antrim would be their downfall.

Missed chances allowed Antrim to get back into the game as Fermanagh failed to close the back door once more.

Division Three will await the Erne side next year but after some impressive league performances this past season, they will be eyeballing a swift return to Division Two.

However, they will be hugely disappointed that they passed up a massive opportunity to reach the semi-finals of the Tailteann Cup and a chance to play in Croke Park.

It is a young squad with the exception of a few older stalwarts and they have learned the hard way what happens when you fail to take their chances with the Cork league game and Antrim quarter-final the most evident.

But to see if these lessons have been learned and whether or not Kieran Donnelly and his management team will still be in place is for another day.