Fermanagh Manager Kieran Donnelly has been boosted by the return of the Cullen twins, Che and Lee, to the squad for next season, but Donnelly has suffered a blow with the loss of James McMahon, who is going to Australia.

Lee Cullen has been in Australia since early 2020 and brother Che had relocated to Budapest for work purposes and had travelled back and forth for a period to play for Fermanagh, but has not been involved since Covid-19 struck.

Che is now back home and Lee is set to return home on a permanent basis later this year, and Donnelly is delighted to have the duo on board for next season.

“I spoke to both players individually and they showed a massive interest in getting back into the fold.

“Both Che and Lee see themselves as county footballers and they are, the way they look after themselves and the condition they are in.

“Both have enjoyed their time away but they have missed it – they miss playing for the county,” said Donnelly, who was part of Peter Canavan’s management team when the pair first came into the squad in 2012.

“When they first came in under Peter, they were very keen to learn and they proved to be among Fermanagh’s most consistent players in those years after that.

“They will be a massive plus for us and because they have missed quite a lot of football, both with the county and club, they feel they have a good few years left in them and that is refreshing to hear,” said Donnelly.

Fermanagh lacked physicality defensively at times last season and Donnelly believes that the Cullens will be a massive help in that regard.

“They bring that bit of experience and physicality that we felt that we were lacking last year against some of those physically bigger teams, and they will immediately solve those problems for us,” he said.

One player who won’t be available though for the Ernemen this season is James McMahon, who is off to Australia once the club championship is over.

“James is a massive loss,” said Donnelly. “I felt last year was one of his best years, but he has talked about this for a couple of years and it is something he wants to do, and he has every entitlement to do that.

“He is a big loss, because I felt he just brought a new dimension to his game last year, going forward, and we will miss his experience and leadership, but it is opportunity for somebody else.”

Kane Connor is another player who has stepped away from inter-county football.

“Kane has been excellent for Fermanagh, but he is busy in his own business life. He was always good to have around the squad and we wish him all the best,” added the Erne boss.

In terms of additions to the squad, Donnelly added: “We have been looking at a couple of younger players who we will bring in and there is one or two who we will keep an eye on now throughout the club championship.”

And he will be an interested spectator at the club championships.

“It is a real exciting club championship and one that four or five teams will realistically feel that on their day they can win a big game, and win a championship, and when you have teams going in with that edge, feeling that they can win a championship, then the quality goes up in reflection to that.

“I think we are in for a real good, close championship and hopefully that will bring out one or two who weren’t involved last year and it will stand to the boys who were in last year who are going to come back in off a competitive championship.”