Fermanagh minors were to taste defeat for the second time in a week against a strong Antrim side in Brewster Park last Saturday, the Saffrons running out 3-10 to 0-09 winners at the end.

Fermanagh minor manager Niall Jackman was disappointed after the game: “Of course it’s always disappointing to lose the game, we did get it back to two points at one stage in the second half but sadly the final ten minutes we seemed to have just gave up and Antrim ran in two relatively easy goals.” He continued: “We have plenty of work to do and it’s a learning curve for us all in the group. Our fitness wasn’t an issue but we did give away some soft scores at the end. Overall, I feel the full time score flattered them and I know we have the players but it’s going to take time to get the best team on the pitch, and more importantly get the right performance on the pitch.” Fermanagh were missing some key players once again with the likes of Conor McAuley (Belnaleck), Garvan Jones (Derrygonnelly), Cian McManus (Teemore) and Colin Copeland (Lisnaskea) all ruled out through injury. The Fermanagh minor club league fixtures were played 24 hours later and this has angered Jackman.

“At the moment, the amount of injuries we are gathering is something serious and it has to be acted upon. It is unacceptable to make players play for Fermanagh on a Saturday and then play for their clubs on a Sunday.” Fermanagh had two further injuries on Saturday when wing half back Rory McCaffrey had to be replaced after 15 minutes with an ankle injury, while substitute Jason Flanagan only lasted 10 minutes before being replaced due to a hamstring strain. Jackman continued: “I am acutely aware this would not go on in a host of other counties. At the moment each player needs to be individually looked at for each training session on a Tuesday night for any further injuries, they just aren’t getting any recovery and it’s killing us as a group and as a county team. We’re not a big county and we aren’t a big squad but we are having to play players like Danny Leonard out of position because of the amount of injuries we are carrying.” On the Antrim, defeat Jackman is confident Fermanagh can turn it around for June 1 when the pair will meet again in the Ulster Championship.

“Thankfully we have a host of players to come back and they will have to fight for their positions. Antrim will be a big test for us but we have league games left to see the whole squad and taking on Tyrone next will be a tough test. Hopefully the injury table gets a rest and I hope to have our midfielders Conor McAuley and Garvan Jones back for next week’s game with Tyrone down in Omagh.”