O'Donnell quits Fermanagh hurling post

The Fermanagh County Board are on the lookout for a new senior hurling manager following the depature of Rory O'Donnell.

O'Donnell, who hails from the Lisbellaw club, decided to resign in the aftermath of Fermanagh's Ulster SHC first round loss to Armagh last Saturday.

He took on the role in January 2009 and this year the Ernesiders showed promise in Allianz Hurling League Division 4, picking up wins over Cavan, Longford and Leitrim and drawing with Tyrone.

However, they bowed out of the Lory Meagher Cup at the quarter-final stage - losing 4-08 to 1-10 to Warwickshire - and then the 5-19 to 5-06 defeat to Armagh put an end to their Ulster Championship hopes.

But last Saturday's game will stand to the Fermanagh panel, according to O'Donnell, as they look to reach a higher level of hurling.

"I couldn't fault the performance, work-rate and quality of the players. I think that anybody who was at the game would have really enjoyed it," he told the Impartial Reporter newspaper.

"It was the best game of hurling that I've seen at Brewster Park in a long, long time and if the boys were getting that level of hurling all the time they would really improve.

"They are all good hurlers and they have all the skills but it takes other things as well, like commitment and if you want to be the best you can then you need to make sacrifices."

O'Donnell added: "I enjoyed my time as manager but that's me done, I've done three years now and it is time for somebody else to come in.

"I think it will take somebody else to now take them on another bit - although I wouldn't rule out coming back in another few years."