Fermanagh's Declan McCusker pictured at the launch of the Tailteann Cup. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
By Cian O’Connell
“I love it, I wouldn't still be doing it, if I didn't, to be honest,” Declan McCusker says about spending more than a decade on the inter-county beat with Fermanagh.
Two victories over Wexford and Carlow have been registered in a satisfying start to Fermanagh’s Tailteann Cup campaign, and McCusker continues to simply enjoy representing the green and white outfit.
“I'm sort of at the stage every year it pops into your head will I go again or do I have another year in me?,” McCusker adds. “At the minute the body is fit and healthy, when you're playing, you're happy, so I'll keep going.
“It is handy enough for me, I work 20 minutes from home, I'm living in Fermanagh. Travel can be a big thing too for boys. When you're so local, it does make it a bit easier.
“You’ve to be enjoying it, to put in the effort that is required to play at this level. At the minute I do enjoy it, my family enjoy it, they love coming out to watch. So, hopefully I can give them something to follow this summer.”
Declan McCusker remains an influential figure for Fermanagh. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
McCusker remains optimistic about the potential in Kieran Donnelly’s panel. “We've been playing in Division Two this year, we should have been playing at a higher standard than a lot of the teams here (in Tailteann Cup),” McCusker says.
“Last year we got promoted from Division Three, but it didn't really stand to us when we got into the Tailteann Cup. We were poor. So, it is up to us this year to use that advantage of playing at a higher intensity in Division Two, to try to bring that into the Tailteann Cup.
“Hopefully, come the end of games we will have that bit of fitness and those tight games in Division Two might stand to us.”
The group format ensures a decent volume of games are on the agenda with Fermanagh set to face Laois in their remaining fixture before the knockout stages. “I know there has been a lot said about the shortened season, but I think as long as you stay injury free, stay fit and healthy, you just want to be playing games week on week,” McCusker says.
“It is perfect, especially with the weather picking up and pitches getting firmer. It is time you want to be playing football with games coming thick and fast. That is what every player wants.”
