Fermanagh’s Ladies Manager, Johnny Garrity, is not one for dwelling too much on the past – and he is determined his players do not either as they look forward to their opening National League game this weekend.

It was a memorable end to a dysfunctional 2020 as Fermanagh Ladies were crowned All-Ireland Junior champions following their victory over Wicklow at Parnell Park. But that was then and this is now, and the only thing the Fermanagh squad are focusing on is the Division Three league opener away to Roscommon.

“We were delighted with how the last season finished but we are ready now to write a new chapter and we are looking forward, not back,” said Garrity.

“It’s really exciting we are on the cusp of that beginning.”

The Fermanagh boss has been happy with how the players have dedicated themselves following the resumption of inter-county training, even though pre-season is not like normal years.

“When it is such a condensed pre-season, you are never fully content because you are not given the luxury of the usual extensive build-up that you are used to. But taking into consideration those restrictions, we are very happy with how the girls have been working over the course of the past few weeks.”

Like the Men’s National League, the Ladies will also be playing in regionalised sections within their divisions.

Fermanagh face Roscommon, Sligo and Down in their section, and Garrity knows that with fewer games to pick up points, there is little room for error.

“A win is worth much more now and a defeat could be even more costly than usual, so we know we have to be competitive in every match and we are confident we can do that.”

Fermanagh faced Roscommon last season in the league before Covid-19 put an end to competitive football for a while. Despite it not being the best of performances from the Erne Ladies, the experience of playing games in Division Three will stand to the side as they look to make their mark in the division.

“It’s a brilliant experience to help us prepare for what is going to be expected of us this season.

“And added to that, we went on and won the All-Ireland and played against teams like Wicklow who are a well-established Division Three team, and we know the level required and we certainly won’t be going in like last year, where it was new to us, so we are going to be prepared.”

Satisfied

Garrity believes this Fermanagh squad is the strongest one he has managed yet, and with new faces added, alongside the return of some players who were unavailable for the championship last year, the management team are satisfied with what they have to work with for the 2021 season.

Six new players have been added to the squad, and Garrity believes they are more than capable of carrying off playing at this level if called upon.

“We say this every year, but we think this is the strongest panel yet. We are very excited about it. There is a good strength to the quality, but also a real strength to the character, so it all bodes well.

“We are looking forward to it. We know last year we were missing a few players for the national league, and even had a few injuries during the national league that left us a wee bit short during it, but this year I think the squad is a wee bit stronger for the league. The players who were around last year have another year’s development under their belts, and are that bit stronger.

“All things considered, we are in a good place, going in this time,” added the Fermanagh Manager.