AIDAN Gilroy has been ratified as the Fermanagh Minor (U-17) Manager for the forthcoming season, with the Ederney man taking over the reins from Maurice McLaughlin, who has moved up to the U-20 position.

Gilroy has been involved with a number of clubs and most recently steered Derrylin to last year’s Junior Championship final against Coa, with that game still to be played.

Gilroy says that he is proud to have been given the chance to manage the side.

“I can’t wait to get started and I’m very proud to have been given the opportunity to manage my county, at whatever level it is.

“It is something that you aspire to, and no matter what, I have always taken a keen interest in how Fermanagh do at Minor level, particularly the championship,” he added.

Ciaran Smith, of Erne Gaels, will join Gilroy as a member of his management team while he says he is working on confirming the remainder of his backroom.

“Ciaran Smith from Belleek is in along with me, and I’m working on a couple of others.

“We’re waiting on confirmation of the schedule for the season so that people have a better idea of what their diary will be like,” commented Gilroy.

The current group of U-17s have been working away under Football Development Officer, Shaun Doherty, and Head of Athletic Development, Eoin Bradley, but Gilroy says the door remains open for those who aren’t part of the Development squad at present.

“Shaun Doherty and Eoin Bradley seem to have been working away with this age group for a number of years, and recently they have had them in Zoom online meetings with the likes of Dean Rock, and I was in the Zoom meeting on Tuesday night with them with the Arsenal Head of Academy, Des Ryan.”

They also all have training programmes, which they are working away at.

“Those are the players who are in the development squad, but the door remains open and we’re keen to get a look at everybody.

“It seems to be a physically big squad, with a lot of players over six foot, which is a change for Fermanagh teams and, as I say, I’m looking forward to getting started.”

However, when that will be is unknown at this stage, but Gilroy states that they will be ready when they do get the nod.

“It is hard to know when it will be – ideally you would like it in the Summer time, but we’ll have to wait and see.

“Whenever it is, we will be ready and waiting to get going,” he said.