Returning players boost Fermanagh boss Canavan

NEW Fermanagh manager Peter Canavan has received a welcome Christmas present.

Several players who withdrew from the squad for a variety of reasons, including disenchantment with the management set-up under John O’Neill, will make themselves available in 2012. And this is proving a timely fillip for double All-Ireland winner Canavan as he bids to transform the team’s fortunes.

Canavan received an initial setback when it was disclosed that wing-back Peter Sherry would be out of the frame as he is now working in England while his brother James, a Dublin-based physiotherapist who captained Fermanagh last year, is still receiving recovering from the dislocated jaw he sustained while assisting Roslea in the recent All County League final.

But Canavan has now taken considerable heart from the fact that experienced players such as Tommy McIlroy, Shane Lyons, Niall Bogue and the Keenan brothers Ryan and Darryl are back on board again. Canavan, preparing to oversee his first formal squad session on January 1, is anxious to ensure all players will be fully committed to Fermanagh from the word go so that a concerted effort can be made to bring about success.

Experienced goalkeeper Chris Breen, who missed much of this year because of an ankle problem, is expected to challenge for a place again while Damien Kelly is also expected to return to the county colours.