McGrath to stay on as Fermanagh boss

Pete McGrath will remain as Fermanagh football manager in 2018, the county board have confirmed.

The Down native replaced Peter Canavan as Fermanagh manager in November 2013 and enjoyed a successful first two seasons with the Erne County, leading them to promotion to Division Two of the National League and the All-Ireland quarter-finals in 2015.

But this season has been more of a struggle, with relegation back to Division Three and back-to-back nine-point defeats to Monaghan in the Ulster SFC quarter-final, and Armagh in the qualifiers.

But the board confirmed on the county's official Twitter site on Wednesday night: "Fermanagh GAA wish to confirm that Peter McGrath will continue as County Senior Football Manager for the 2018 season."

Speaking last month, McGrath admitted that 2017 had been an "annus horribilis" for Fermanagh football.

"The first season was a getting-to-know-you season and there was no damage done. 2015 was a great odyssey in getting promotion and getting to the All Ireland quarter-final and last year we stayed in Division Two and then had that game against Mayo where we were maybe a bit unfortunate," he said.

"But this year has just been an annus horribilis, just horrible. You are relegated and you lose two championship matches each by a margin of nine points it doesn't get much worse than that so we'll have to look at that."

Image: Inpho/Donall Farmer

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