Fermanagh defender Kane Connor has stressed that he is keen to build on last year and he feels that playing against the quality opposition that they will face in Division Two when the league gets underway should give the side even more incentive to drive things on.

Fermanagh will come up against the likes of Cork, Donegal, Armagh, Kildare and Tipperary in what is a tough league programme but Connor says he is looking forward to the challenge.

“My appetite is the same as it was last year.

“I’m not going to sit back and be happy with what we did last year, I want to push on as a team and as an individual.

“We know it is not going to be easy, in Division Two we are going to come up against some strong teams but you should even have more bite in you this year because you are going to be playing those teams and hopefully we can build on last year,” he stated.

The Belnaleck man says that the focus for Fermanagh at this stage will be to hit the ground running for the opening game of the league when Cork visit Brewster Park and Connor is in no doubt they will be ready for that challenge at the end of the month.

“Cork is not going to be easy in three weeks time but being at home will suit us down to the ground. We have done a bit of work on them, we know they are big strong boys but we are going to be ready for them,” he added.

The defender made his first start of the year on Sunday in the defeat to Derry and although it was a disappointing performance from the Ernemen, he is not going to read too much into it.

“There was maybe a bit of boys getting their touch back and you can train and train for a couple of weeks prior to it but when you come into the games it tells. It will just take time.”

Manager Rory Gallagher was not happy to see his side concede three goals although it was anew look defence that played against Derry.

“Three goals isn’t good but as I say it is the first day out and a lot of us are just starting to gel together . There was maybe two in the defence that played in the Ulster Championship last year so it will just take time to get to play with each other. Even as a group, there wasn’t too many that played in the final. We will just get the heads down and work hard,” said Connor.

The games have though been a chance for players to come in and stake a claim for a spot and Connor feels that clubmate Darragh McGurn has done his chances no harm.

“Darragh is putting his hand up for a lad who has only come in this year but he has shown in the two games that he has played that he is capable. It is good that he is doing it and hopefully he can continue doing it. We are missing a few lads through injury but it gives lads like Darragh the chance to come in and show what they can do,” he said.