Fermanagh club Derrygonnelly Harps have been hit with the defection of the Jones brothers to Leitrim Gaels.

Derrygonnelly have been the dominant force in Fermanagh football over the past decade having won seven county titles since 2015 but a fallout last year led to Ryan, Conall and Garvan Jones withdrawing from the set up and the club subsequently failed to reach the county final.

It’s a big boost to Leitrim Gaels, however, as they take on three players of inter-county calibre. The club has never even contested a county final though they will be in the senior grade once again in 2025.

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Ryan was a long-serving midfielder for Fermanagh and stepped away from inter-county football in late 2023 after 14 seasons, while Conall also withdrew at that time.

Ryan is based in Leitrim for work, however, as he runs the RJS Pharmacy in Drumshanbo, a venture that he opened with a friend in December 2019, which was likely a factor in his decision to play his club football in the county.

Garvan remains part of the county set up under Kieran Donnelly, however, and scored 0-3 in Fermanagh’s heavy defeat to Kildare in the Allianz Football League Division Three opener in Newbridge last Saturday.

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