Inexperienced look to squad for McKenna Cup

Editorial Department • Published 23 Dec 2009 09:00 0 Comments

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Fermanagh manager Malachy O'Rourke has named 13 new faces in an inexperienced looking squad for the forthcoming McKenna Cup campaign with only a handful of regulars included in the 30 man panel for the competition.

Chris Breen, Ryan Keenan, James Sherry and Tommy McElroy are among the more experienced performers listed in the squad with O'Rourke determined to cast his eye over the new boys in the weeks ahead.

"We have players like the two Gallaghers who have been training away with us but are involved with their club and others out injured or are going travelling so they have not been included. We have a couple of guys who are with their universities while there is also a number of fellas that we have seen plenty of over the last couple of years and know what they can do, so they are not involved either. I suppose the squad is inexperienced but it gives us the chance to look at these boys in competitive action and it is about making sure that we see what they have to offer," said O'Rourke.

The newcomers include former Tyrone forward Aidan McCarron who impressed last season for Enniskillen Gaels while midfielder Kevin Cosgrove's displays for league champions Roslea have been rewarded with a call up.

County champions Derrygonnelly have five players named in the squad. Defenders Stephen Burns, Daniel Ward and Michael Jones are joined by Paul Ward and Ryan Jones while Devenish have four players included; Barry Mulrone, Chris O'Brien, Marty O'Brien and Terry O'Flanagan.

There is also first call ups for St. Joseph's Peter Gormley, Belcoo duo Ciaran Flaherty and goalkeeper James McGrath, Niall Cunningham who plays for Belfast club St. Brigid's, as well as Lisnaskea's John Woods.

St. Pat's midfielder Paul Cosgrove will hope to impress in January having first been called up towards the end of last season but there is no place in the 30 for Roslea attacker Seamus Quigley. It is believed that Quigley is no longer part of the managements plans.

Also not included is the Gallagher brothers, Rory and Ronan, as both are preparing for an All Ireland semi-final with their club, St. Gall's, but both remain firmly in O'Rourke's plans, while Marty McGrath and Barry Owens are out injured.

The competition will also see the new experimental rules used for the first time. These will include the mark, taking all kick outs from the 13m line and a modification of the 'square ball' rule.

"There are some of them where you could see what they are trying to do and others I would not be sure of, but from our point of view, if we are using them in the National League then it is important to get a trial run with them in the McKenna Cup," added O'Rourke.

Fermanagh's McKenna Cup campaign starts with a trip to Crossmaglen to play Armagh on January 10 but before that they will have two challenge games. Fermanagh will play Down on January 3 in Newry and St. Mary's on January 5 under lights at Brewster Park.

Fermanagh squad

1.C Breen, 2.S Burns, 3.R Carson, 4.J Connolly, 5.K Cosgrove, 6.P Cosgrove, 7.N Cunningham, 8.C Flaherty, 9.R Foy, 10.P Gormley, 11.M Jones, 12.R Jones, 13.D Keenan, 14.M Keenan, 15.R Keenan, 16.D Kelly, 17.A McCarron, 18.J McGrath, 19.B Mulrone, 20.C O'Brien, 21.M O'Brien, 22.S O'Brien, 23.T O'Flanagan, 24.D Ward, 25.P Ward, 26.J Woods, 27.P Sherry, 28.S Goan, 29.T McElroy, 30.J Sherry.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 23 Dec 09

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