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'If you admire defending, then you'll admire Fermanagh'

Action from Fermanagh's recent league game with Donegal
Action from Fermanagh's recent league game with Donegal

While much of the attention this last weekend, and rightly so, focused on Leitrim's promotion to Division 3, Fermanagh footballers are another big story in waiting.

Rory Gallagher's troops remain on track for back-to-back promotions and with that a place in the top flight of the football league in 2020.

They sit joint-top in Division 2 with Meath and know that another two points from their visits to Armagh and the Royals will see them dining at the top table a year from now.

Fermanagh's defensive approach, while effective, is not to everybody's liking.

For the former Donegal footballer Brendan Devenney, watching the Ernesiders reminded him of his own county's tactics in the early part of this decade. He wasn't a fan of what he saw back then and he certainly is not enamored by what Fermanagh are currently serving up.

Speaking on 2fm's Game On, he said: "I hate defensive football and everything to do with it. Even when Donegal were doing it, I had to smile through my teeth. 

"It was very negative stuff and we had better players than what Fermanagh have now.

"And then Gallagher took over Donegal and had us under a shell. That annoyed me when Gallagher was in charge.

"In time the team had to engage with other teams."

That said, Devenney does not want to rain completely on Fermanagh's parade and adds that it would be an "unbelievable achievement" to reach Division 1 on the back of an Ulster final appearance last year.

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He continued: "You can't knock Fermanagh. They are making the best of what they have. It's not great to look at but they have by far the best defence in the four divisions. If you admire defending, then you'll admire Fermanagh.

"Gallagher took over a Division 3 team. They are very close to doing back-to-back promotions. You's have to say 'fair play to him'.

"I think the players are probably happy playing the current sysyem, but I hope things might evolve if they were to get promoted."  

  

   

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