Henry Shefflin Kilkenny U20 Manager – High-Profile Team
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Declan Bonner Appointed as New Fermanagh Senior Football Manager
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Declan Bonner, a two-time Ulster SFC champion with Donegal, has been ratified as the new manager of the Fermanagh senior football team. The appointment, finalized on Monday night, completes the managerial landscape ahead of the 2025 all-Ireland Senior Football Championship.
Succession and Background
Bonner takes over from Kieran Donnelly, who stepped down in August after four seasons leading the Fermanagh team. The appointment followed a period of uncertainty after Maurice McLaughlin, the former Fermanagh U20 manager, withdrew his interest in the position. the Belfast Telegraph reported on the ratification on September 11, 2024.
Currently managing Erne gaels, Bonner led them to victory in the 2023 Fermanagh Senior Football Championship. His previous success with Donegal,securing back-to-back Ulster Senior Football Championship titles in 2018 and 2019,positions him as a seasoned leader for the Fermanagh squad.
Fermanagh’s Championship Outlook
Fermanagh is among five teams eligible for the preliminary round of the 2026 Ulster Senior Football Championship, having bypassed that opening round in the previous two seasons. Derry and Donegal, who competed in this year’s championship, along with cavan and Monaghan, are exempt from the preliminary round.
In the 2024 Ulster Championship, Fermanagh was defeated by Down by two points in the quarter-final. They later reached the semi-final stages of the Tailteann Cup. Their 2024 season concluded with a fourth-place finish in Division 3 of the National Football League, just one point behind Kildare, Offaly, and Clare.
| Team | 2024 Division 3 Standings (Points) |
|---|---|
| Kildare | 7 |
| Offaly | 7 |
| Clare | 7 |
| Fermanagh | 6 |
Looking ahead: 2025 Season
Fermanagh will begin their 2025 campaign with the McKenna Cup, followed by competition in Division 3 of the National Football League. The team will aim to build on their 2024 performance and secure promotion to Division 2.