Eoin Donnelly has confirmed his retirement from inter-county football after a decade of representing Fermanagh, including eight years as captain.

Donnelly informed new Erne boss Kieran Donnelly of his decision on Tuesday afternoon and he admits it was not one that he took lightly.

However, the travelling from his home in Carryduff and the fact that he has a young family, including a new born son, helped him come to his decision.

“I knew it was going to be on the horizon soon and I knew there was a lot to weigh up but at the same time I would love to have kept going, especially with Kieran coming in as I have a lot of respect for him and also with the players that are there as well as it’s such a good group of lads.

“At the end of the day, the travelling was taking it’s toll and then with the wee man just arriving it was going to be selfish of me to keep going and I had to come to terms with that.

“I had ten good years of it and I’m content with the decision now,” explained Donnelly.

Fermanagh will play in Division Three having missed out on promotion to Division Two and Donnelly says it would have been an easier decision if they had gone up while he would also have liked to have finished on a high after a couple of tough Covid affected seasons.

“We could be playing in Division Two and I would probably be a lot more content in my decision knowing that we were sitting in Division Two where I believe we should be but that’s the thing, you always think next season will be our season and things will go well but there is no guarantees that will happen and no matter when you make the decision it was still going to be a tough decision to make as it has been a part of my life for so long.

“The last couple of years were frustrating with Covid and what not and you would like to have had another clear run of a season at it but it is what it is.”

He is in no doubt though that Fermanagh’s future is in safe hands with Kieran Donnelly, who was the trainer under Peter Canavan when Donnelly first made the squad.

“Kieran was involved whenever I first started ten years ago and it has come full circle now and he is back and the main man in charge. I was able to come along before Christmas when there was trials and that and I really enjoyed the bit of training that I was to do at that time and I know the players have enjoyed it. Everything that has gone on so far has been really good and I’m confident that they will push on and that’s part of the reason I would really like to have been involved. I would like to have given back to Kieran what he gave to me when I first started but unfortunately I can’t do that,” he commented.

And he is hoping that they can go on and make a return back to Division Two.

“Division Three is well documented that it is so competitive; you look at every game and you think if you win that one it is a big one but then you have the next game and it is the same, they are all big games and it is fine margins in a lot of them.

“Every team in the division will see promotion as a realistic goal. With the players that are there though you just really hope that they have that same ambition and push on. I know Kieran and everyone else will have that as their objective and they are well capable of it,” said Donnelly.

So, does the last decade hold many happy memories?

“I have as many off the pitch as on it - that is county football. A lot of people don’t see what goes on behind the scenes but what keeps you going is the craic that you have with players and the backroom at training and on trips and all that. The match days and odd big win is the icing on the cake.

“Unfortunately for Fermanagh there is few trophies but I have great memories,” he said.

On the pitch, there was plenty of big games including an Ulster final and playing the Dubs in Croke Park in championship. It is another game though that sticks out for Donnelly.

“I will always remember my first game, to be honest, it was a McKenna Cup game on a Sunday in January.

“To play for your county was phenomenal, it was never something when I was younger that I ever even thought was possible. I just wanted to get playing for my club and I remember thinking that I would love to get playing on the Coa senior team and then to come on to the Fermanagh senior team and make my debut, that’s one that I will always remember.

“Obviously, you also have the game against Dublin in Croke Park in the quarter final, the Ulster final and we had league finals as well. You have so many good memories and you just have to take the defeats on the chin.”

Donnelly though is not hanging up the boots entirely and has intentions to be back out playing for Coa in the season ahead.

“That’s the plan. There is a split season now so I will have plenty of time to have some family time and whenever the county season finishes - and hopefully Fermanagh go long into the year and have a good run and I will be able to get to the games and support them - then when that is done and dusted I will probably be glad to have club football.

“It will be different getting back into the club side of things again,” he said.