DERRYGONNELLY SKIPPER RYAN JONES IS CHALLENGING HIS TEAM-MATES TO CREATE ULSTER HISTORY...
DERRYGONNELLY Harps captain Ryan Jones has laid down a challenge to himself and his team-mates to become the first club side from Fermanagh to land a senior Ulster title.
No club side from the Erne County has won the Seamus McFerran Cup, although Roslea Shamrocks (1982) and Enniskillen Gaels (1999 and 2003) have reached the final — a stage the Harps just missed out on last year when an injury-time Barry Fortune goal handed Cavan Gaels victory in the Ulster semi-final replay.
There was a sense that something was at an end on that day as the Harps traipsed off the Clones turf, and soon after manager Martin ‘Archie’ Greene stepped down from his post having led his native club to the previous three county titles.
However, their ambition burns just as bright and if anything they look even better placed as Sean Flanagan’s management brought a 14-point hammering of St Joseph’s in Sunday’s county final, which means they are awaiting the winners of this Sunday’s Monaghan decider between Scotstown and Ballybay in the Ulster preliminary round.
“We want to challenge ourselves, we want to see how we do against the so-called bigger teams and we now have four (county) titles in a row, so it is up to us lads to step it up and really compete on that Ulster stage,” said pharmacist Jones.
“In Fermanagh club football, you need to put a few Championship wins together to get that belief, among the young guys especially, that we are as good as anybody in Ulster.
“We were unlucky in the first couple of years, we met quality opposition in Slaughtneil, and last year against Cavan Gaels we conceded five goals and you are not going to win too many games doing that.
“But we will get our heads down now. We will enjoy this, and then in three weeks’ time we are playing the Monaghan champions which will be no easy task, but those are the games you want to be playing in.”
No matter who they end up playing, there are no mysteries about football at this level given how close the counties are — and there is sure to be a Harps delegation scattered through the Gerry Arthurs Stand this Sunday to take it all in.
“I know a lot of their players. Monaghan is only down the road, we played against a lot of them at county level,” explained Jones. “Without doubt we will go down and watch it. We will try to plot and plan; you have to. You can’t really go into that stage and play completely off the cuff.
“Any Fermanagh club in an Ulster campaign will be underdogs. There is no point in trying to kid ourselves here. The Monaghan champions would definitely be favourites, whether it is Scotstown or Ballybay.
“But we feel we have a good strong team, we have plenty of county players and other guys, really talented club players, and if we sit down over the next three weeks and give it the time, who knows what can happen?”
The story of Derrygonnelly is quite remarkable. Around 25 years ago, they had the foresight to begin a youth development scheme that was far ahead of its time.
After winning their first ever Championship in 1995, the current squad are the fruits of years of labour among the youth ranks, with the current management team of Flanagan and Brendan Rasdale carrying on the success of ‘Archie’ Greene.
“As a group of lads we know them very well. It was probably a big challenge for them to get the whole thing lifted again. When you think of the three in a row it could be a tough job to go into. But the players we have in this group really drive the thing on as well and it is a collective job,” said Jones.
He also spoke of the pride within the club that throughout their history they have not required an outside manager, whereas many others believe it is necessary to have a manager with no ties within the club.
“I know for a fact that any man who has managed Derrygonnelly, it has been completely voluntary and they are Derrygonnelly through and through, they just want the best for Derrygonnelly as a club,” he added.
“That’s a massive thing. We are proud of having that tradition at the same time. We always feel we have good enough men within the club who can step up and be involved. We don’t have to step outside the club to always be challenging and winning.”