By Michael McMullan

NEW Enniskillen Gaels manager Simon Bradley admits his side need to close the gap on the physicality stakes if they are going to translate underage promise into a challenge for a first title since 2006.

Last season was their first time back in the decider and the Gaels were on the wrong side of a 2-8 to 0-5 defeat at the hands of a Derrygonnelly side that have taken the New York Cup home six times in the last seven seasons.

When John Reihill stepped down after five years at the helm, Bradley stepped up from the management team for what he sees as a crunch time for the club.

“They are a young team and they need to be brought through carefully. They need a lot of the strength and conditioning,” said the former Fermanagh minor boss and senior selector.

Of the Gaels’ Ulster Minor winning team of 201718, nine played in last year’s senior county final. From that, Brandon Horan, John Reihill, Jonathan Cassidy and
goalkeeper Cian Newman
have joined James Ferguson and Richard O’Callaghan on the county squad.

“There would be a significant gap,” said Bradley of the younger players’ level of conditioning.

“One of our buzz phrases this year is closing the gap. When they came off the pitch last year in the two finals (league and championship) with Derrygonnelly the players themselves realised that there was a significant gap, particularly in the whole squad.”

Now it’s changing, with the appointment Charlie Kane to look after the strength and conditioning across the entire club.

“It is a real culture shift for them this year,” said Bradley, who had earmarked this Thursday as their first run out on the grass.

Strength and conditioning will be part of the whole package during the season, in terms of development, maintenance and recovery. And when Bradley moves on as manager, the Gaels won’t have to lay the same foundations.

He references how the Derrygonnelly young players have ‘eight of nine’ years of physical improvement. The same can be said for Sean Doherty’s similar input in Kinawley.

“He has put the culture into the club, so their players would’ve been bigger than we had been and Ederney would’ve been the same,” Bradley explained.

“Most of the clubs were ahead of us, some more so than others. The (Enniskillen) players have realised that and there has been a big buy in in the last three or four months.”

Bradley has a management that includes goalkeeper coach Chris Breen, Michael O’Callaghan (video analysis) and Darragh McManus.

Former stalwart Neil Cox and Michael Cunningham have joined the setup this season. Cunningham has been part Cavan’s underage system under Dermot McCabe.

Another factor has been their 15 Belfast-based players joining Bredagh’s pre-season to limit their time on the road, with former Gaels’ men Paul Gunn and Fergal Nolan to carry that on during the season.

“It is making a big difference to the players, they are loving the fact that they are not having to come down on a Wednesday night and a Friday,” Bradley concluded.

“It is a long season that will hopefully be going on until September.”

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