It is hoped that this year will see two new adult club hurling teams from Fermanagh take part in competitive action with Erne Gaels set to step up to adult level having had succcess at youth level while there is also discussion about a regional club being formed in south Fermanagh.

Ulster GAA Regional Hurling Development Officer, Emmett Conlon says that playing adult would be the natural progression for Erne Gaels.

"Erne Gaels have done it the right way in starting at U11 and going up the age grades. They have played national Feiles, they have played competitions outside Fermanagh and as a club they have provided a lot of underage hurling.

"Erne Gaels now have a group of 18 or 19 year olds who want to play adult hurling and the hope now is that they can recruit a few people from surrounding areas who want to play hurling and field an adult team. We said that if the interest was there then we would provide games. We're not too worried about the level or the standard but we want to create more games and more of a culture of hurling in the county," said Conlon.

With underage hurling thriving in Fermanagh, the aim is to now look to produce more adult teams and Conlon is hopeful of more to follow in the coming years.

"The underage is definitely developing and getting better with Hurling Secretary Kieran Farmer having put in a lot of good work, and now I think for the next three or four years if there is a demand for adult hurling we should try to think of ways to provide it.

"It is all about trying to create a bigger playing pool and you would like to think that in three or four years time the likes of Belnaleck, Enniskillen, the Knocks will also have adult teams."

He is also hopeful that there will be an adult team in south Fermanagh this year with interest there is getting things going.

"You would have had Lisnaskea and the Knocks in that area who played adult hurling but they finished within two years of each other and that left a surplus of players without an adult club.

"A few players approached me who had an interest in playing again so I put the feelers out to find out whether there would be enough interest for a team and there has been a good response from the Lisnaskea, Donagh, Knocks and Derrylin areas while there has also been people from the likes of Roslea, Aghadrumsee and Newtownbutler who have also said they are interested. South Fermanagh would have a good tradition of hurling but unfortunately just over the last few years at adult level it hasn't been there," he stated.

Coid-19 depending, the aim would be for Lisbellaw and the two new teams to take part in the newly formed Cuchulainn Cup last this year with Emmett explaining that it is aimed at counties with small playing numbers to provide them with a championship type competition.

"The Cuchulainn Cup is a progression from the Tan Og underage leagues and will cover north Connacht, Ulster and north Leinster and teams will be split into senior, intermediate and junior.

"You look at Lisbellaw, they have no championship to play at the minute, in Cavan there is only four teams in the championship so it is for counties who have small club numbers that they can be grouped together and give them a meaningful championship to play," he said.

If you are interested in playing for Erne Gaels text Paul Daly 07746 950247 or Rosie O Reilly 07501 400914 for further information or if you have an interest in playing for the regional south Fermanagh side contact Emmett Conlon on 07918719791 or email me at emmett.conlon.ulster@gaa.ie