Kieran McKenna: Fermanagh footballers inspired by Ipswich promotion

"It was very obvious early on that Kieran was destined for great things."

That's according to Mark Connolly, a coach at Enniskillen Town who coached Ipswich Town head coach Kieran McKenna as a teenager.

Just 15 months after leaving League One, Ipswich will now be heading back to the Premier League under the guidance of the 37-year-old County Fermanagh man.

On Saturday, they beat Huddersfield 2-0 at Portman Road.

"Kieran was different because he had talent - but he was also very driven", according to Mr Connolly.

"He was very methodical - a great character - a great team player - but he had that wee bit extra about him.

"When the other kids were having a wee bit of fun - Kieran was doing extra work - training, doing sit-ups at the side of the pitch - and extra runs after games and things," he continued.

"It was very evident that he had that sort of tunnel vision and he wanted to succeed."

Mark added the children at Enniskillen Town now have a real affinity to Ipswich.

That is something 10-year-old Noah, a player with Enniskillen Town agrees with.

"I play centre mid and I've learned from watching the Ipswich team about passing fast and movement," Noah explained.

McKenna entered coaching after his playing career was cut short in his early 20s due to injury while at Tottenham Hotspur.

He had represented Northern Ireland at youth level and went on to coach at both Spurs and Manchester United before making the move to Ipswich as manager in 2021.

Murray, nine, plays right back for Enniskillen Town.

For him, McKenna is a "great manager".

"I've learned from him that you need to pass. He's doing everything right. It's great to see someone from where we are doing so well."

Pat Harty, from Drogheda, has been an Ipswich Town fan since the 1970s.

He now travels to Fermanagh to watch The Tractor Boys and said it's a long time since the team has been in the Premiership.

"The great thing about this is that it's an Irishman that's taken us back to the Premiership - and that's what makes it all the more sweet,' said Mr Harty.

"Kieran has done an absolutely fantastic job. It has been a lonely road being an Ipswich fan but I've noticed a lot of shirts popping up in the past couple of weeks.

"Everybody is going to be looking for Kieran McKenna now. Everybody wants to know Ipswich supporters now that we are on a high. The more supporters we have the better."