Corrigan puts brave face on rout by ‘probably best side in country’

FERMANAGH manager Dom Corrigan won’t have taken many positives from yesterday’s spanking in Croke Park, but he at least had the consolation of being beaten by a county that he described as “probably the best team in the country.”

In reality, it's hard to say just how good Tyrone are after Fermanagh's no-show in the first quarter-final. Certainly, Kerry or Roscommon will learn little from the debacle, but Corrigan is adamant that Mickey Harte's men are within a whisker of capturing the county's first senior All-Ireland title.

"Well, we got a bad drubbing from Kerry early on in the qualifiers last season and I said then that the team that would beat Kerry would win the All-Ireland," the Kinawley man said after the 19-point defeat. "The team that beats Tyrone will go on and win it. They'll be hard to stop, but there's still quite a few good teams out there yet." For Fermanagh to trouble a hugely-fancied Tyrone yesterday, a healthy start with points on the board was a necessity. Instead, they suffered an opening that left their challenge virtually stillborn inside twenty minutes. On the face of it then, simply a crippling case of stage fright?

"The early scores that Tyrone got we had our own chances to score early on but didn't we had to be taking every opportunity in those opening minutes because we're not used to playing on the big stage whereas Tyrone are. So, it was unfortunate that we didn't avail of those early opportunities, but I would have nothing but the height of respect for these players. They turned in a tremendous effort all through the season and they deserved their place in Croke Park today," he continued. Having consigned both Mayo and Meath to early summer breaks in the qualifiers, Corrigan was confident leading up to the game that his charges could buck the recent trend that has seen them flop on the largest stages just when most is expected of them. Instead, they are left with a lengthy hibernation with another savage mauling being their most recent memory. "We felt coming up to today that after beating Meath and after beating Mayo that we were close, but on the day we were outclassed and once they got ahead of us they were six points up after ten or so minutes and then they got the goal and they put their foot on the pedal there was just no way back for us. They really turned in a very impressive performance.

"Their experience really told, we were outclassed everywhere.

"We expected it to be close, but we knew we had a major challenge on our hands.

"We knew we were up against probably the best team in the country here today."

Despite the disappointment, Corrigan managed to maintain a brave face. Nowhere was there a sign of him passing the buck, criticising individuals or lamenting his team's very visible lack of spirit. His was Fermanagh's gutsiest and proudest display all day. "Our boys know that they didn't perform today but they've put in a tremendous effort this season they've blazed their own trail this year.

"Obviously we're disappointed not to get to an Ulster final but we had a great run in the qualifiers.

"What has happened over the past two months will have brought the team on immeasurably.

"Hopefully, with the good experiences and even the painful one today we'll be a stronger team for it next season.

"You have to go through painful experiences like that to progress but we made the last eight and hopefully, if all the boys stick together we can pick it up a notch or two next season we might be back in Croke Park yet."