Fermanagh boss Kieran Donnelly remains hopeful that star forward Sean Quigley will be fit to play some part in Saturday’s Tailteann Cup opener away to Longford.
Quigley bagged two goals when the Ernemen won in Pearse Park when the sides met in Division Three of the League back in February.
Fermanagh lost out to Tyrone in the preliminary round of the Ulster Senior Football Championship last month with Quigley landing three points against the All-Ireland champions.
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The Rosslea attacker carried a groin injury into the Brewster Park clash and Donnelly says the same injury is threatening his participation in Saturday’s knock-out meeting with Longford (throw-in, 5.30pm).
“Sean (Quigley) is struggling and we’ll have to judge it this week at training,” said Donnelly.
“He was carrying a niggle going into the Tyrone game.
“He is still a doubt at this stage and he is a massive player for us from a scoring point of view.
“We are hoping that we’ll be fit to play some part this weekend.”
When Fermanagh’s interest in the Ulster series ended in mid-April, the details of the inaugural Tailteann Cup were thin on the ground.
Most people, Donnelly included, were of the belief that the format would be an open draw, straight knock-out competition, but the regionalisation of the competition has been criticised in many quarters.
“There was just no need for it - just play the competition and let it evolve and run it like the back-door competition,” stated Donnelly.
“There was no need to tweak it at all, promote it properly and let it go.
“I felt it was a really strange call and the reasons given didn’t really back up the logic of doing it.
“It is what it is and we have to get on with it. Whoever gains momentum from the first game, if they win the next one, they are in Croke Park. That adds a boost to the competition.
“We’re looking forward to the game and we’ve parked all that.”
While a number of counties have been hit by withdrawals since bowing out of their respective provincial championships, Donnelly has expressed his delight with how the Fermanagh squad have responded since losing to Tyrone.
The winners of Saturday’s game will progress to the quarter-final of the competition and will face one of the other winners from the northern section while the semi-finals and final are scheduled to be played at Croke Park.
“I think there will be a lot of talk this year on how teams will react to the competition,” added the Fermanagh boss.
“I know personally, we’ve a young team and our boys have approached it well and have trained well since the Tyrone game.
“It often depends on what stage some teams are on the road of progression. We see ourselves as a fairly young team and we see it as a good chance to get as many games as possible.
“To still be playing Championship games at this time of year. . . that’s what we are looking for.”
“We can focus on it, but maybe it isn’t as appealing for others. For Fermanagh, it can only be a good thing."
He added: “It is a tough draw. Longford and Fermanagh have always been closely matched.
“There has only ever been a point or two between the sides as well as drawn games.
“It will be a tough game. Longford are renowned for pulling off big scalps in the back door down through the years. They are a good footballing team so it is definitely a tough challenge for us."
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