Fermanagh manager Kieran Donnelly is glad that he will have the services of Ultan Kelm this year but does empathise with the Erne Gaels man’s understandable disappointment at missing out on his dream to playing full-time sport in Australia.
Kelm was the driving force that took his club to their first Fermanagh county title since 1981 and he is also a key figure for his county. His performances attracted the attentions of AFL scouts and was invited to a trial by Fremantle Dockers.
However, when Fremantle decided against recruiting any international rookies for 2025, Kelm’s hopes of an AFL were shelved.
Fermanagh take on Monaghan under the new rules and under lights in Tempo on Saturday evening at 5pm in a challenge match just a week away from the county’s opening NFL game away to Kildare and Donnelly is happy to have his talisman on board for the 2025 campaign.
“Look we are disappointed for him as first and foremost he is a very popular member of the squad ,and he is a great lad and very professional in terms of the way that he approaches his training,” Donnelly said.
“He wanted to be a professional athlete, and you would be disappointed for him that he did not get to achieve that but from our point of view, we are delighted to have him for the season ahead as he is so important to us.
“Ultan is our vice-captain as well and he is a very important player for us even off the field,” Donnelly said of Kelm, who works as a Gaelic Promotions Officer in Fermanagh schools.
“He is rooted in the GAA in Fermanagh and he has a great personality for the schools and he gets on well with the youth and that is the sort of role model that you are trying to create throughout the county.
“And that inspires young lads to be better.”
Donnelly added that Kelm also really stepped up for his club Erne Gaels as they took their first county title in 43 years.
“Yeah, he has been a leader for the club this past few years and he really stepped up in both games in the county final to push Belleek to the title and had a massive year for a club.”
On a less positive note, Donnelly will have to plan without two of last year’s starting forwards as Conor McShea and Callum Jones are both bound for Australia.
“That is a loss, and they are two very good characters, but we will just have to move on and prepare as best we can with what we have.”
Fermanagh were relegated to Division Three last year after some early promising displays which saw them come within an ace of beating top side Cork and finish near the top of Division Two.
And despite a big win over Cavan in their final game, the Ernesiders went down as Louth beat Kildare narrowly in their final game.
One feature that Fermanagh could be concerned about is the number of goals conceded as a result of “risk/ reward” where keepers Sean McNally and Ross Bogue were caught out of position and goals followed.
So, there will be strong motivation for Donnelly and co to get back to the second tier.
Donnelly is carrying a big squad as he gets to grips with the new rules ahead of his side’s challenge match with Monaghan in Tempo under lights on Saturday with some of the proceeds going to the Air Ambulance charity.
“We are carrying a big squad due to the new rules, and we have quite a few young lads as well.”
“We have a good test against Monaghan in Tempo on Saturday and games are vital to get the lads familiar with these rules.”
Donnelly said the biggest learning will be about the sanctions for infringements.
“That is the crux as well as holding three players up as well as dissent and tactical fouls.
“You really have to be on it and if you are not disciplined in that respect you are going to lose games.
“That is evident already… handing the ball back to an opponent, retreating properly, no tactical fouling and it will take time for us all to get used to it.
“If you are away from your opponent-the ball must be just set down on the ground.
“Another big one is dissent towards the referee and the ball is brought forward by 50 metres,
“Apart from that, the game does not really change all that much.”
Donnelly was at the Kildare v Galway game and noted that if there are not three players in each half the penalty is a 13- metre free to the opposition.
“Galway conceded three points in that scenario, and it was just a foot over the line.
“We have been trying to reinforce this to the lads in training.
“Referees will be strict at the start to get some markers set down and we are looking forward to taking on Monaghan in Tempo.”