Pete McGrath’s first win overshadowed by axeing of star forward Séamus Quigley

Fermanagh 2-13, Sligo 1-10

Pete McGrath's first win as Fermanagh manager was overshadowed by his axeing of star forward Séamus Quigley ahead of their Division Three game against Sligo on Saturday night. McGrath confirmed he dropped Roslea duo Quigley and Niall Cassidy for playing soccer in the Fermanagh and Western league just hours before the game.

“Anyone who is in this squad and wants to stay in this squad can have no involvement with soccer,” McGrath said. “They have to be fully committed. You can’t dabble in all things so the choice is clear. If you’re not matching the standards of other counties and are ambivalent, then you’ll be caught out, individually and as a team.”

McGrath confirmed the duo have not been axed from the squad permanently. However, it’s clear that the talented Quigley, who has a history of disciplinary problems, is on his last warning. “They are not gone (from the squad) but they know the situation and they didn’t object to anything I said,” added McGrath.

Seán Quigley shone under the lights in Brewster Park in the absence of his brother and scored 1-8, including 1-3 from play, with Sligo finishing with 13 men. Despite trailing by four points after conceding two goals from Quigley and Ryan Jones, Sligo led by 1-7 to 2-3 at half-time.

Within 60 seconds of Jones scoring Fermanagh’s second goal in the 28th minute, Mark Breheny hit the net at the other end to bring Sligo right back into the game. Sligo were poor after the break and only scored three points.

James Kilcullen was given a black card after 42 minutes and having been booked a few minutes later, he was sent-off with Sligo unable to bring on a replacement.

Keelan Cawley suffered the exact same fate 20 minutes later as the visitors finished the game with 13 men.

FERMANAGH: C Snow; J Woods, T Daly, M O'Brien; D McCusker, R McCluskey, B Mulrone; R O'Callaghan (0-1), E Donnelly; C Cullen, R Jones (1-0), L Cullen (0-1); E Maguire (0-1), S Quigley (1-8, 0-5 frees), T Corrigan (0-2) Subs: T McElroy for Mulrone (34 mins), A Breen for O'Brien (38 mins), E Courtney for Maguire (64 mins).
SLIGO: A Devaney (0-2, 0-1 free, 0-1 45); R Donovan, M Quinn, K Cawley; C Harrison, N Ewing, G Ryan; J Kilcullen (0-1), C Griffin; P Hughes, M Breheny (1-2, 0-2 frees), J Quinn; A Marren (0-5, 0-3 frees), D Kelly, S Coen. Subs: D O'Boyle for Quinn (46 mins), K McDonald for Coen (48 mins), N Murphy for Kelly (54 mins).
Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan).