Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
THE HUNGER JAMES
F a ilu re i n th e Ulster final was agonising but Mcmahon’s ready to show his appetite remains just as sharp as ever
JAMES MCMAHON hopes Fermanagh’s Ulster final regret will spur them on to greater things in 2019.
The Erne men were dreaming big when they reached the Ulster decider in June but never really turned up and were crushed by 12 points by Donegal.
“That was the biggest regret, coming away knowing you hadn’t performed anywhere near to our potential,” admitted Mcmahon.
“Any day you do that you always have regrets and look back with ‘what ifs’. If we had performed to our capabilities and Donegal had beaten us by a couple of points, you could hold your hands up and sort of accept it.
“But the fact we didn’t produce a performance ourselves was definitely the biggest disappointment of all.”
Asked if that will be a big motivation for the new season ahead, defender Mcmahon insisted: “I’d like to think so.
“Time will tell whether it will or not but you’d like to think the regrets and disappointment from last year will give us that wee bit extra motivation.”
Fermanagh did gain promotion from Division Three in what was Rory Gallagher’s (inset) first year in charge and a tough Division Two campaign in the spring should be good preparation for another tilt at the Ulster Championship.
As fate would have it, the Erne men will face Donegal again, this time in the first round at Brewster Park.
“We were really hoping for a home draw and after that you can’t ask for much more,” said Mcmahon. “It was nearly inevitable after the way it ended last year that we would get them, and it’s a tough draw surely.
“It’s a date we will be working towards, I’m sure they’re no different.
“Before that we have Division Two and a right few of our squad would have played in it a few years ago and they know what to expect.
“Every division you go up you’re playing against better quality and that can only be a good thing.
“There are things we got away with in Division Three last year that we won’t get away with this year. That can only improve us in the long run.”
Fermanagh kick off the new season today with a Mckenna Cup opener against Ulster University.
They’re the first teams to experience the new playing rules, which are being trialled during the pre-season.
Mcmahon will be playing for Queens in the competition but reckons the changes will cause “a lot of frustration among players and supporters”.
“I could see the handpass rule causing confusion. Refs have enough on their plate without counting hand passes.”