Qualifier Round 1 - Fear Manach v Cill Mhantáin

[FermPundit]

Now is not the time for post-mortems. It's probably best to wait a few days before trying to analyse last night's performance. As Exiled has said, it was really disappointing. One positive though was the decent turn out of Fermanagh supporters in Aughrim. It's just a pity that the long trip home was so depressing!!

[Erne Gael]

Well when can you say is the best time for post mortems?? yes absol brilliant support from Fermanagh and very surprised too but we probably expected a result so that is why there was a good turn out. Fermanagh started off well and should probably been more in front in the 1st half with the possession and of course the strong breeze but were lucky to get the goal before half time to give fermanagh the lead at the break. time after time in the 1st half wicklow kicked dangerous ball into their full forward line which threaten our full back no end and only for recovery tackling/defending made sure no goals were conceded.

Ok Chris Breen made great saves but where did his kick outs go all the time?? straight down the middle to wicklow midfield which we neva won unless it was directed to james sherry who palmed down to peter sherry and in turn delievered good ball into fullforward line in 1st half. With the size of those midfielders from wicklow kick outs to wings should have been enforced by the management on the line....How mark little stayed on for 1st half is a mystery. what did he do apart for the pass for goal and his man attacked flat out in 1st half. Two keenans worked very hard (with darly getting good scores) along with seamus quigley until injury. James sherry battled well in midfield but go no support.

Was bringing on mc cluskey corect decision? fermanagh were ahead at break and bring on an extra defender?? ok little had poor 1st half but now was the time to unleash him as extra man. or what bout Damian kelly?? he had good season last year and attacks well with the ball and has an eye for a score.
Wicklow were down to 14 men and lost their main free taker Hannon!!!! and later in the half were down to 13 men......

What was point bringing on mc elroy to full forward line?? i have neva seen him play there and also since we were struggling at midfield break ball was crucial and he is key in this area. fermanagh won hardly any break ball for at least a 15min spell staright after half time and wicklow built up a strong lead at this stage. thought it was awful unfair decision taking him off after 20 mins. anyone could have went at that stage.

2nd half was a complete shambles all over the pitch. no leadership, no direct running with ball, moving barry owens from chb to fb to ff what that hell was going on here???
where fermanagh go from here is anyone's guess.. Ulster finalist 2008 to ..........2009 it doesnt look promising.
its bout time some experience was brought back into squad and regroup again for 2010.

[OverThePostsAWide]

Interesting (and refreshing) that O'Rourke's management pedigree isn't being trashed after what has been a dismal year for Fermanagh football. Other counties would be screaming before now. Is that because Fermanagh ones are just a fairminded sort? Or do you just accept that disappointment is inevitable given the limited resources?

There is an old saying that players win games and managers lose them which seemed to get turned on its head last year. Much of Fermanagh's great success last year was credited to O'Rourke's tactical nous. He could do no wrong. This year's dismal failure has left him land his reputation largely unscathed and it is mostly the players who seem to be bearing the brunt of the criticism. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that but the change in Fermanagh's fortunes between last year and this has been dramatic and spectacular. What has gone wrong?

I can see a parallel with Baker and Antrim. Antrim have done well and Baker, with good reason, has got most of the credit. But one Ulster Final doesn't a revival make...