QUIGLEY IS BACK TO FIRE UP FERMANAGH
Forward’s timely return a huge fillip as Erne outfit bid to turn the corner
SEAN Quigley has an extra special reason for hoping that the start of inter-county action is not too long delayed.
Having opted out of the Fermanagh squad last year, the free-scoring forward feels he has now regained his appetite and, from manager Ryan Mcmenamin’s perspective, his return to the squad could hardly be more welcome.
With the Jones brothers, Conall and Ryan, along with the Corrigan duo, Tomás and Ruairi, having stepped away from the county panel, Quigley’s comeback provides a ration of comfort as the Ernesiders prepare to do battle with Cavan, Derry and Longford in Division Three North of the new-look Allianz League.
Speculation abounds as to just when the league will start — indeed, there is a belief in some quarters that the competition might not be staged — but this does not deter the 28-year-old from adhering rigidly to his personal fitness regime.
Relegation from Division Two and that disappointing Ulster Championship defeat to Down in November combined to leave a distinctly sour pre-christmas taste in Fermanagh mouths but Quigley prefers to dwell on the positives as he looks forward to relaunching his career at elite level.
“I’m very keen to get back to sample a bit of football again,” says Quigley with obvious relish.
“Undoubtedly we will face big opposition in the league and that’s just for starters.
“Cavan are Ulster champions, Derry are always difficult to beat and Longford usually pose a threat so we know what we are up against.
“Cavan have certainly shown their mettle and Derry manager Rory Gallagher knows all about us having previously managed Fermanagh.
“There is no doubt that we need to hit the ground running. When a team has only three league games in which to prove itself, there is no margin for error.”
Few counties experienced the difficulties that Fermanagh suffered in the recent October-november period when the Covid-19 pandemic impacted heavily on the squad that saw defeats incurred against Clare and Laois in the league before the reversal against Down.
But since then, manager Mcmenamin has been preaching the gospel of positivity and this is a mantra that is shared enthusiastically by Quigley.
“We may have lost a few players but we still have quality people in there like Eoin Donnelly, Ciaran Corrigan, Paul Mccusker, Aidan Breen, Richard O’callaghan, Declan Mccusker, Ultan Kelm and James Mcmahon.
These are players who can backbone the team,” points out Quigley.
“As well as this, there are a number of players from the St Michael’s College, Enniskillen side that won the Hogan Cup two years ago beginning to come through strongly.”
Quigley is taking considerable heart from what he detects as “a real good buzz” emanating from Fermanagh squad Zoom meetings.
“We may not be able to train collectively but here is a real good buzz within the panel which is greatly encouraging in these times,” he maintains.
And he provides what he sees as an even more compelling reason why he is keen to resume his inter-county career.
“My last game for Fermanagh was against Monaghan in the 2019 All-ireland qualifiers, a match in which I missed a penalty. To be honest, I did not want to leave things at that,” admits the Roslea clubman.