In recent years when James Ferguson has been mentioned in the sports pages, it is usually in rugby.

But 2021 was the year the 28-year-old has ended a 10-year absence from Gaelic football and lined out once more for Enniskillen Gaels.

Having not played the game since Minor level, one would expect a familiarisation period for the rugby centre turned Gaelic full back.

But Ferguson has impressed throughout the season and is thoroughly enjoying the experience, which he hopes will culminate in him and the Gaels team getting their hands on the New York Cup on Sunday.

But why would a talented rugby player, who has enjoyed success at Towns’ Cup and Junior Cup level with the Skins, decide to return to Gaelic football?

Joked

“I started again because John Reihill promised he would play a bit of rugby,” Ferguson joked. “He sees himself as a bit of a hard man.

“To be honest, it was just a bit of a new challenge. Initially, it was just by chance – I met a few of the boys through soccer and they sort of tempted me into it.

“I always thought about it in the past few years, but not with a lot of substance behind it – but this year, I fancied a bit of a challenge, and the rugby is a bit hard on you, and I just thought it would be a bit of change.It’s been enjoyable.”

He admits that there are aspects of the game that have evolved since he last played, but he has praised the set-up he has come into for helping him settle in.

“To be fair, the game has changed a fair bit since I last played.

“I would be more used to less skilful aspects of it but it has got a bit more skilful, and everyone is expected to [be good at] everything these days, but I’m very lucky to come into a really good team, but also with very good coaching, it made it a lot easier.

“The boys around me in the team have been very helpful, even though a lot of them are younger.

“In my view, if you’re good enough, you’re old enough, and the boys are certainly good enough and they have helped me a lot.”

Having set out to play some Junior football, Ferguson has been a mainstay of the Senior team and has impressed with his man-marking ability. Fast and strong, he has stood up against some of the best forwards in the county throughout the league and Championship, and held his own.

It’s a role that suits him, and one he used to carry out when he last played: “That’s what I always would have done. It is particularly good for me, because it gives me a focus rather than worrying about the skilful parts of the game, similar to rugby – trying to do better than the man opposite you.”

The Gaels and Derrygonnelly met in the Division One league final – a game Ferguson feels he personally did not perform in to the level required, while as a team he says they just did not turn up on the day.

Sunday is a chance to put that right, but he is well aware of the challenge the Gaels face.

But with two tough Championship games under their belt, the side should be the better for it.

“Playing Senior championship is a new thing for me, but it is also new for most of the players.

“Each step of this is a new experience for us, and they were very tough games. We learnt a lot from them.”

With the experience of playing in big finals in rugby, the defender is hoping this can transfer over, but he knows that once he is out on the pitch, any motivation required will have to come from the players on the field.

The preparation definitely overlaps

“I don’t have much experience of Gaelic but I have been in a few finals that I have won and lost. The preparation definitely overlaps.

“I find, in a way, playing a team like Derrygonnelly can be the easiest to prepare for, because you know you are getting the hardest game of the year.”

While Ferguson claims the Gaels will go in as underdogs, there is a buzz about the club, who are competing in its first Senior championship final since 2006.

And despite it being at the latter end of the year, it’s the place you want to be, says Ferguson: “There’s a lot of excitement. It’s a new thing for a lot of people.

“It is going to be the hardest game of the year – but we will give it all we have, and see how we get on. We have to match them physically, and then I have no doubt that our players are good enough.”