PETE MCGRATH HAS ‘total belief’ that his Fermanagh squad can deliver a historic Ulster title in 2016.
The Ernemen and Wicklow are the only two football counties never to have tasted provincial success.
But after putting it up to Dublin in Sunday’s All-Ireland quarter-final, McGrath believes that this group are good enough to land the Holy Grail.
He said: “I think an Ulster title is everyone’s ambition so why should Fermanagh not be able to stand up and say, ‘Our objective for next year is to win our first ever Ulster Championship?’
I think it’s marvellous because no other county can have that as their objective – a first ever.
“But we have and it would be such a marvellous achievement for this group of players if they could go on and win a first ever Ulster Championship for Fermanagh. We have the players to do that and I don’t mind saying it.
“I don’t say that with any kind of arrogance – I say it with belief, total belief.”
Fermanagh outscored the Dubs by two points in the second half but it wasn’t enough as Jim Gavin’s side ran out eight-point winners and set up a semi-final against Mayo or Donegal.
Bookmakers could hardly split the favourites in the Race for Sam last night, making the Dubs a 5/4 shot and the Kingdom 6/4 after their 27-point walloping of Kildare.
“I certainly wouldn’t bet against (Dublin),” McGrath said.
Kerry were very impressive as well but all those qualities that we keep eulogising (Dublin) for, their athleticism, their fluency, their relentless work rate — their work rate really is unbelievable — it will take an exceptionally good team to beat them.
“Whether that team is out there, they may be. I think Dublin are a class apart.”
