Declan Bonner continues to chalk up championship success in the dugout

Declan Bonner chalked up another major championship triumph last weekend with Erne Gaels’ Fermanagh SFC final replay win over Enniskillen Gaels in Brewster Park. 

Erne Gaels’ impressive 1-13 to 1-9 win over the hot favourites is another success on the former Donegal double Ulster SFC winning manager’s impressive CV.

Last Saturday night’s four-point win in Brewster Park was the 1992 All-Ireland winners’ second county SFC victory. 

Back in 2006, Bonner was wearing the manager’s bib when Gaoth Dobhair claimed a 14th Donegal senior crown with a 1-5 to 0-6 win over St Eunan’s.  

The Na Rossa clubman also enjoyed championship success with his home club Na Rossa winning the Donegal JFC in 2023.

Before that, he was player/manager all of 35 years ago when Na Rossa claimed its first piece of championship silverware in 1989, taking the IFC crown.

“I was 23 at the time and we beat Naomh Ultan in the final and it was my first success as a manager,” said Bonner. 

He has also enjoyed great success with Donegal with U-16, U-17, minor and U-21 success and was the first man to guide Donegal minors to an All-Ireland final.

That was in 2014 and a side that included current senior players like Eoghan Ban Gallagher, Caolan McGonagle, Jamie Brennan and Stephen McMenamin. 

Unfortunately, they suffered defeat to Kerry on the same day Jim McGuinness’ senior outfit also fell to the Kingdom. 

And there was of course the back-to-back Ulster SFC wins on his watch back in  2018 (Fermanagh) and 2019 (Cavan).

Erne Gaels ended a barren spell of 43 seasons with their return to the top of the Erne mountain last weekend. 

“I’m really delighted for the players, the officials and supporters and it was plain to see at Brewster Park on Saturday night after the game,” said the winning manager.  

“The sheer joy and emotion on show from all players, officials and supporters was a clear sign of what it meant to the club.

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“I’m particularly delighted for the players because they bought into everything myself, Paul Brennan and Ciaran Smith said to them from day one. 

“Paul and Ciaran were members of the management team. Paul is the team coach and I cannot speak highly of him. 

“I knew from working with him as a player for five seasons when I was Donegal manager that he was dedicated and very professional in everything he did. 

“And he has carried it through as coach and a lot of our success is down to Paul. He is a top-class coach. 

“Ciaran is a local lad,  he did the strength and conditioning with the lads and he has them in great shape and like Paul is a thorough professional as well. 

“We worked well together as a team and the lads responded because we had 28/29 players at training every night.

“I’m thrilled for the club because they had worked extremely hard to finally win the championship after losing the last two finals to Derrygonnelly and Enniskillen. 

“They certainly put in the work and they are an example to any club. If you put in the hard grind you will reap the reward.”