Last season ended in the most disappointing fashion for Fermanagh ladies, losing an All Ireland final to Down. That after a disappointing league campaign which saw the Erne ladies drop down into Division Three. Fermanagh ladies Manager Lisa Woods, is confident they can push on and rectify the shortcomings of last year.

“We want to win everything,” laughs Lisa. “Last year we were poor in the league and this year we want to rectify that and hopefully be pushing for at least third from the top. We haven’t really looked any further than that.” In 2014, one of the reasons Fermanagh struggled so much in the early stages was due to a number of experienced players opting out of playing league football. This year it’s a different story though. The addition of Aileen Moane from Brookeborough and Newtownbutler’s Maria Connolly will help strengthen the squad and with all others retuning bar Kyla McManus, who is still recovering from ankle ligament damage she sustained in the final, it’s looking good for Lisa: “We started training back at the start of December and we’ve had good numbers out and most of the team from last year are back again.” After the disappointment of the All Ireland final defeat, many wondered if the bulk of this team would return. A problem Lisa didn’t have to worry about in the end: “Would you believe, no, it wasn’t a case of persuading girls out again. We knew ourselves that on the day, our performance was bad and no one wanted to leave on that note. The girls are back and are more determined and have a point to prove. Hopefully this year, we can prove it and show what a good team we are.” The players were not the only ones with a decision about returning to make. For Lisa and her management team of Aidy Little and Karen Greene they too have committed again and she says it was an easy decision for her personally: “I wouldn’t have left on that note, no, not on that performance. The league this year will be a good tester and will hopefully stand us in good stead for the Ulster Championship. We will be playing teams of Intermediate standard and the girls know they have to make an impact.” Making that impact was due to begin last weekend, at home to Tipperary but the game was postponed due to a frozen pitch. Instead, Fermanagh will kick-start their campaign this Sunday, away to Waterford. The Erne ladies will travel to Dungarvan on Saturday evening and they’re expecting a tough opener: “We met Waterford in the All Ireland Quarter final last year. They were favourites but we shocked them that day. They’ll want to prove a point this time around. It would be great to get a win in the first match. We know it will be tough but if we can get a victory it would set us in good form. If that doesn’t happen though, we’ve six more matches to play to try and push our way up the table.