Monaghan 0-21
Fermanagh 2-08

Monaghan sent out a clear warning to Ulster final opponents Tyrone following a devastating display against Fermanagh in this clash at Kingspan Breffni Park this afternoon.

This year's Ulster SFC final looks set to be a right battle as Monaghan produced yet another great display to book their place in the provincial decider at the expense of a Fermanagh side that just were no match for Banty's charges.

Fermanagh boss Malachy O'Rourke resisted the temptation for change in the side. Seamus Quigley made a big impact following his second half introduction in the quarter-final win over Cavan, but had to be content with a place on the subs bench once again as O'Rourke stuck with the same starting XV. Peter Sherry also missed out, despite returning to full fitness.

Monaghan went into this match as strong favourites given their five star performance against Armagh in the quarterfinal, but Fermanagh are used to being handed the underdogs tag and have thrived on these sort of situations in recent years.

The Farney County opted to keep regular full back Darren Hughes in goals, following his surprise inclusion against Armagh, while Dermot McArdle replaced Dessie Mone in the half back line.

Despite being favourites, Monaghan had failed to beat Fermanagh in their last five championship meetings and their last success came back in 1968, which was a statistic they were keen to put right today.

In the first of the action a Paul Finlay free was cancelled out by a Daryl Keenan point and the latter could just have easily as scored a goal, but opted to take his point.

Further scores from Conor McManus and Damien Freeman made the score line 0-3 to 0-1 after eight minutes. Monaghan needed to build up a decent lead as they played with a strong breeze on their backs in the first half.

Finlay hit a further point to stretch Monaghan's lead and then Freeman had a shot that was heading goal bound but it took a deflection and just shaved the crossbar as it bounced over for a point to make it 0-5 to 0-2 after 17 minutes.

Paul Ward added a point for Fermanagh, but three points from Monaghan including another from Finlay made it 0-8 to 0-3 after 24 minutes of this contest. The Farney men were using the strong wind very well and worked the ball in scoring chances, in which they were taking as they made it 0-10 to 0-3 as half time approached.

Monaghan continued to pile on the pressure and three more points helped them to a 0-13 to 0-3 lead and even though there was a strong wind, this match looked already beyond Fermanagh, but as we saw over the weekend, a comeback was always a possibility.

Further scores from Finlay were added to by Thomas Freeman, Eoin Lennon, Dick Clerkin and Stephen Gollogolly helped Monaghan to a half time lead of 0-14 to 0-3.

Fermanagh introduced Seamus Quigley, who had such a massive impact during the win over Cavan and he kicked a point, which followed A converted Rory Gallagher '45.

However, points from Finlay, McManus, Thomas Freeman and Hugh McElroy made it 0-18 to 0-5 just ten minutes into the second half, but already it looked as if Fermanagh's challenge was well and truly over.

Ryan Carson did pull one back for the Erne County, but the game went flat at this stage as Monaghan looked to put the game beyond any doubt as they tagged on another score from McElroy.

Fermanagh did manage a late rally and a Gallagher shot went in off the post for the first goal of the game and he followed that up with a well taken free to leave the score at 0-20 to 1-7 with six minutes remaining.

Keenan tagged on another goal for Fermanagh, but it was just a case of taking the bad look off the score as Monaghan ran out winners by 0-21 to 2-8.

Monaghan - D Hughes; D McArdle, JP Mone, C Walshe; D Freeman (0-2), V Corey, G McQuaid; D Clerkin (0-2), O Lennon (0-1); S Gollogly (0-1), P Finlay (0-6, 5f, 1sl), K Hughes; C Hanratty, C McManus (0-3, 1f), T Freeman (0-3). Subs - R Woods for Hanratty (23), H McElroy (0-2) for Gollogly (ht), D Mohan for McArdle (60), M McElroy (0-1) for Hughes (63), N McAdam for D Freeman (65).

Fermanagh - Ronan Gallagher; R McCluskey, S Lyons, N Bogue; B Mulrone; D Ward (0-1), T McElroy; J Sherry, M McGrath; D Keenan (1-1), Rory Gallagher (1-2, 1f, 1'45), M Little; P Ward (0-1), R Carson (0-1), C O'Brien. Subs - M O'Brien for Lyons (21), C Flaherty for Little (29), S Quigley (0-1) for P Ward (42), K Cosgrove for McGrath (48), R Keenan (0-1) for O'Brien (66).

Ref - M Duffy (Sligo). Tweet

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