Sean Armstrong | Niall Bogue | Eoin Brosnan | Paddy Bradley | Sean Cavanagh Aidan Carr | Kevin Cassidy | Ronan Clarke | Bryan Cullen | Colm Cooper
Shane Curran | Brian Dooher | Kieran Donahy | Mattie Forde | Thomas Freeman
Raymond Gallagher | Paul Galvin | Leighton Glynn | Ciaran Hanratty
Stephen Kernan | James Masters | Andy McClean | Oisin McConville
Ciaran McDonald | Stephen McDonnell | Michael Meehan | Barry Monaghan
Finnian Moriarty | Adrian Morrissey | Conor Mortimer | Eoin Mulligan
Ross Munnelly | Nicholas Murphy | Eamon O'Hara | Stephen O'Neill
Tomas Ó Sé | Darragh Ó Sé | Declan O'Sullivan | Colm Parkinson | Tomás Quinn
Donal Shine | Ciaran Whelan | Fergal Doherty

Last summer Fermanagh’s footballers captured the imagination of the people of Ireland as they came agonisingly close to an historic place in the All-Ireland final. In the end, it wasn’t to be. But the brave Ulstermen will long be remembered for their giant-killing exploits.

When young corner-back Niall Bogue was handed his senior inter-county debut against Mayo last February, he could scarcely imagine the year that was to follow. After an indifferent league campaign, Fermanagh went down to All-Ireland champions Tyrone in their Ulster championship quarter-final clash in early May. A disappointing start, but the guts and glory of the following three months won’t be easily forgotten. Fermanagh beat top teams Meath, Cork and Donegal in the qualifiers to book a quarter-final date with Armagh, which they won by a single point.
Next up was a semi-final date with Mayo which Fermanagh eventually lost in a replay. Niall Bogue was central to Fermanagh’s amazing Championship run. Now he is looking forward to next year to see if they can go one better.

How would you rate Fermanagh’s performance in
the championship this season?
We had a great run. It was disappointing that it had to end without an All-Ireland final appearance at least, but apart from that it was first rate.

What have been your greatest moments in sport?
The victory over Armagh this year was incredible and it was great to be a part of that. Winning the MacRory Cup was also pretty special.

Which is the toughest team you have ever faced?
I suppose this year the physically toughest game was against Meath. It was the first match after the Tyrone match so we were a bit tired and it was physically very hard.

Who was your toughest ever marker?
Probably, Mayo’s Conor Mortimer or Meath’s Daithi Regan.

What advice would you give to young players coming through the ranks?
I would tell them to stick at it. Keep going to training and listen to your managers and trainers. You’ll have disappointments but you have to take them on the chin and get on with it, don’t quit.

How do you balance your studies and football?
I’m a student at Queens University where I study Law and Politics. It can be very demanding, especially from February to April when you can be playing under-21 games, senior games, Sigerson Cup games and you have to study as well.

Which player do you admire the most?
As far as corner backs go, I would say Tony Scullion or Sean Marty Lockhart
of Derry.

Who was your childhood sporting hero?
I don’t have one in particular but I always looked up to the Ulster teams of the early 1990s who won All-Irelands.

What are your hopes for the future?
To win the Ulster title with Fermanagh, every season that’s our first aim. It’s going to be very tough and we are going to have to try and improve. We will also be looking to get back into Division 1 of the National Football League.

What club do you play for and who are your biggest rivals?
I play with Kinawley Brian Borus. We reached the semi-finals of the county championship last year. At the moment Enniskillen Gaels are the team to beat, they have won last four or five in the row.

© December 2004