Ulster SFC: McGrath fury over Woods broken jaw in Brewster tie

Fermanagh manager Peter McGrath has been left angered after defender John Woods sustained a broken jaw in Sunday's Ulster SFC defeat by Antrim.

Woods will miss the remainder of this season after sustaining the injury when challenging for a high ball with Antrim keeper Patrick Flood.

"An incident which happened right in front of the referee and he did nothing at all?" said the Fermanagh boss.

"I find that incredible. Absolutely incredible."

Fermanagh had already been forced to start without forward Tomas Corrigan and McGrath described the absence of the attacker and the injury to Woods as "two major blows".

Despite his team's defeat to an Antrim team that struggled in Division 4 of this year's Football League, McGrath insists that the squad - who went into the contest as favourites - will take positives from the game.

After twice trailing by 11 points, the Erne men lost out by only two points in the end and indeed very nearly stole victory as Antrim defender Kevin O'Boyle cleared a goalbound effort off the line in the final play of the game.

"The players never waved the white flag. They hung in and hung in.

"The last shot in the last second of extra-time was scrambled off the line. If it had gone in we were through [to the Ulster semi-final].

"Those are the margins at this level of football but we [the management] have learnt from today and the players have learnt from today.

"They are a very strong group and there is a very good spirit there.

"They will regroup. This is a work in progress.

"I know we have some experienced men but there are a lot of young players in the squad."

And McGrath says that he remains convinced that better days are around the corner for the Erne side despite Sunday's defeat.

"I am confident that the panel of players in Fermanagh at the moment can progress and can be a serious team in this province in the next year or two."