Belleek retained the New York Cup with a three-point win over Derrygonnelly in the Fermanagh SFC final replay at Brewster Park but Declan Bonner wasn’t on the sideline for the victory
Erne Gaels will be on the hunt for a new management team in 2026 with Declan Bonner taking on up his role as Fermanagh boss.
Last Saturday night, they got a glimpse of what life will look like without the Donegal native’s presence on the sideline.
As they battled to a three-point victory over Derrygonnelly in the Fermanagh SFC final replay at Brewster Park, their manager was stateside due to a pre-planned trip to watch his son play college football.
Seamus Ryder’s last gasp point brought the Fermanagh final to a replay a week earlier and Bonner had already made arrangements to watch his son Cillian in action for North Greenville University.
Bonner kicked a field goal in the second quarter, but his side lost away to Valdosta State 35-24, but there was better news for his father on this side of the Atlantic as the Belleek men retained the New York Cup with a 1-12 to 1-9 victory.
Click here to sign up to our sport newsletter, bringing you the latest sports news, headlines and top stories
Ultan Kelm, who turned in a Man-of-the-Match performance which included a vital early goal for Erne Gaels, said Bonner left no stone unturned in the preparation for the replay prior to his departure for America last Friday.
“Declan’s son, Cillian, had a game and Declan had the trip planned before the final went to a replay,” said Kelm.
“Over the last two years, we can never ever question Declan’s commitment to the club. It is his family and the trip was already booked. He wasn’t fit to be here, but at the same time, he was here all week. He only left on Friday and all the work was done.
“We have a good enough management team when Declan’s not here to get us across the line and, thankfully, now we have another game to prepare for.”
That next fixture will be an Ulster Club SFC quarter-final against Cavan champions Kingscourt at Kingspan Breffni on Saturday week.
Belleek suffered a 0-19 to 0-6 hammering at the hands of Scotstown in their quarter-final last season and Kelm says the ambition is simply to give a truer reflection of themselves this time around.
“When we looked at the draw, we knew we could be facing the Cavan champions. It was a game we felt we could really improve on from the performance against Scotstown last year.
“We weren’t happy with that in any way. Scotstown are a seasoned team in the Ulster Club Championship and are full of established county performers.
“That that was probably a wake-up call for some of the boys that maybe haven’t played at that level. Ulster Club football is probably closer to inter-county level.
“The top teams come out of each of the provinces and counties.
“From our point of view, getting across the line (in Fermanagh) was the first part. Now, we have to give a better account of ourselves than we did last year and target that win in Ulster.”
Meanwhile, Kelm has all but given up on his dream of securing an AFL contract having been on the brink of signing with Fremantle three times in recent years.
He was originally signed in 2020, but Covid-19 scuppered his move. In 2022, he signed with the Dockers before getting injured with the move put “on hold” by the AFL side.
He returned to Australia for trials in 2024 with the club also looking at Tyrone U20 star Eoin McElholm. In the end, neither Kelm or McElholm were drafted with the club claiming last December they were no longer in the market for Category B rookies.
“I spent two weeks on trial with Fremantle last summer and I loved it,” said Kelm.
“Whatever happened after that, if it didn’t work out. I’m 25 now, I’ll be 26 in December.
“From that point of view, I would be the oldest ever Irish player to sign for a club. I don’t know if it’s still possible.
“If any club wanted to sign me, I’d jump at that opportunity, 100 per cent. But, from here on I’m with Belleek and Fermanagh
#Declan #Bonners #absence #county #final #replay #explained #Fermanagh #star #AFL #decision
