Stevie McDonnell was once more the matchwinner as Armagh beat Fermanagh by 0-11 to 0-7 at Brewster Park.

This Round Two Qualifier failed to ignite and it has to be said that the Orchard County were never quite at their brilliant best but still did enough to progress to the next phase. But for the scores and all-round magnificent play of their ace attacker McDonnell it could have been a different story.

The talismanic full forward doubled his tally from last weekend's defeat of Donegal to claim six points, each one a dagger through the very heart of Fermanagh's aspirations.

The Killeavy clubman also saw a second-half penalty brilliantly saved by opposition goalkeeper Ronan Gallagher. Jamie Clarke and Charlie Vernon each contributed a brace to the winners' tally.

Fermanagh seemed overly-dependent on free-taker Seamus Quigley (0-5) for scores, with Brian Cox and Tommy McElroy the only others to register for the home team. The losers certainly put it up to the Orchard County in the first half and they were well in touch at the break, trailing by 0-6 to 0-4. All four of Fermanagh's first-half points were supplied by Quigley.

The also underdogs got the first point of the game but Jamie Clarke was on hand with the leveller.

With James Sherry performing heroics around the middle of the field, the Ernesmen created a couple of goal chances but both Darly Keenan and Ryan Carson were left ruing disappointing misses. Stevie McDonnell took advantage as he clipped over the lead point, 0-2 to 0-1.

The next six point were shared, with Quigley stealing the eye as he bagged a couple of great scores, but it was that man McDonnell who had the last say of the opening period as he lofted over a late free to assure his team of a two-point cushion at the turnaround.

Soon after the restart, Malachy Mackin was felled as he was about to pull the trigger for a certain Armagh goal and McDonnell calmly stepped forward only to see his kick excellently saved.

Tommy McElroy had the gap down to the minimum but the hosts could never quite get back on terms.

Clarke and McDonnell fired further Armagh points which meant there were still two between them - 0-9 to 0-7 - with eight minutes left.

McDonnell drove over another brilliant point from a free - his sixth score of the match - from outside the 45-metre line to make it a three-point game. Gareth Swift added a magnificent point to put four in it with as many minutes remaining.

Swift chalked up his third wide and McDonnell was everywhere as he teed up Clarke for a one-on-one with Fermanagh goalkeeper Gallagher, who made another fine save.

Two minutes were added and relieved Armagh goalie Paul Hearty had the ball in his hands when the final whistle sounded after two added minutes. Tweet

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