08-05-2025
Declan McCusker says Fermanagh lifting Tailteann Cup would be ‘massive' as skipper targets Croke Park glory
FERMANAGH stalwart Declan McCusker admits championship silverware would be the stuff of dreams.
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Declan McCusker of Fermanagh says winning the Tailteann Cup would be massive for the county
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The Ernesiders face Carlow this weekend in their opening game of the Tailteann Cup
Their skipper, 34, joined the squad in 2011 and helped them reach the 2018 Ulster decider, which they lost to Donegal.
But the Tailteann Cup gives Kieran Donnelly's men hope. They bowed out in last year's quarter-finals against Sligo.
But McCusker hopes 2025 can bring big things ahead of Sunday's group stage opener at home to Carlow.
He said: 'It would be unreal. It would just lift any trophy for Fermanagh, especially to lift one in Croke Park, it would be unbelievable, it would be massive - a dream come true.
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'I don't see the Tailteann as a slog, to me Fermanagh winning the Tailteann cup would be a massive, massive achievement.
'We're a very small county and numbers, we don't have big numbers and I think we have the fewest clubs in the country. So to win any competition would be huge.
'Although it's been the same the last few years, we've always been a number one seed and we sort of come in thinking we are good enough to win it and we've underperformed.
'Look at some of the other teams, Laois and Antrim have performed really well in the Tailteann Cup and we haven't so that's something we need to try and get right this year.'
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But they have to do so without star man Ultan Kelm. The Erne Gaels clubman was all set for a move to the AFL last winter, but he remained on home soil.
A hip injury has sidelined him all year as he missed their entire NFL Division 3 campaign and their gutting Ulster SFC quarter-final loss to Down.
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And McCusker admits their hitman might not feature in their bid for Tailteann Cup glory either.
He said: 'Ultan Kelm has missed the whole league and he's still injured at the minute. It's his hip.
"A few years ago when he signed the contract with AFL he made a balls of his hip and then it kind of reoccurred.
'I actually don't know how far away he is, he's weeks away anyway. So whether he gets back to play for Fermanagh at all this year or not I don't know, it would be a massive boost if he could get him back.'
