There will be a new look to the Ulster Minor Football Championship this year with Ulster GAA having opted for a group format for the competition.

Fermanagh have been drawn in a five team group that also includes Monaghan, Donegal, Down and Derry, guaranteeing at least four championship games while they will also have a minimum of four league games prior to this in the Ulster Minor League with their first game in early March.

Fermanagh manager Niall McElroy feels that the extra championship games is a positive step and will help with the development of the squad.

“Ulster GAA have changed the format of the minor competition this year with a group stage championship and I think this is a positive change from a Fermanagh point of view.

“We are guaranteed a minimum of four championship games and it will be good for the development of our lads. They have also decided to keep the league competition after initially indicating they would merge the league and championship so we will get a minimum four games in that as well,” he said.

Fermanagh have been drawn in Section A for the Ulster Minor League where they will take on Donegal, Tyrone, Cavan and Sligo and McElroy knows that his side will face some stern tests in the league.

“Our league group has been organised geographically with Sligo being involved. Sligo is the only side we played at U16 level last year and they were particularly strong and went on to win the Fr. Manning Cup after that.

“Donegal and Tyrone contested the Ulster U16 Buncrana Cup final last year and Cavan reached the Gerry Reilly Cup semi-final so they are all good teams we are facing which will be a challenge but it will give us a good indication of where we are at and will be excellent preparation for the championship,” he added.

In the championship, only one team will exit after the group stage and that team will come from Fermanagh’s group as it is the five team group. The other section will see all four progress and they will be playing for seeding in the knock out stages.

“The teams drawn in the group of four will automatically qualify for the quarter finals while in our group one team will miss out on the quarter-finals so every game is going to be very important and we will do everything we can to qualify out of the group.

“Donegal is the only team we have been drawn against in both league and championship so there will be some familiarity there and we will be looking at the other teams during the league to see what they are like,” said the Tempo club man

The league though is what Fermanagh are concentrating on at this moment and they have a number of challenge games lined out in preparation for that.

“We will focus on the league first and take the championship when it comes.

“The draw for the competitions has given the lads something to look forward to now. Training has been going well, the lads have been working very hard and we have a number of challenge games lined up in the lead up to the league starting.

“Training is important but nothing beats matches and we are really looking forward to getting going with those,” said McElroy.

Fixtures

Ulster Minor League

March 4

Fermanagh v Donegal

March 11

Cavan v Fermanagh

March 18

Fermanagh v Sligo

March 25

Tyrone v Fermanagh

Ulster Minor Championship

April 15

Fermanagh v Monaghan

April 19

Donegal v Fermanagh

April 29

Fermanagh v Down

May 6

Derry v Fermanagh