Ulster SFC quarter-final
Fermanagh 0-9
Donegal 0-15
It just wasn’t to be for Fermanagh. There is no doubt the Ernemen put everything that they had into the display in Brewster Park and some solid defending limited the scoring chances for Donegal.
However, when the chances did fall Donegal’s way however they were clinical. Michael Murphy, Patrick McBrearty and Jamie Breenan coming to the fore in the latter stages and Fermanagh just couldn’t contain them as Donegal ran out victorious by six, 0-15 to 0-9.
The first half was a very tense affair with scores at a premium and much sprinting from end to end when either side lost the ball. Fermanagh hit two points from Ultan Kelm and Sean Quigley to take an early lead, but Donegal then hit four unanswered points move into the ascendancy.
The Ernesiders were working seriously hard though and pulled level before break thanks to points from Ryan Jones and Ciaran Corrigan. The last say of the half went to Declan Bonner’s men though. Just on the stroke of half time Jason McGee swung over a sweetly struck shot to edge to make it Fermanagh 0-4 Donegal 0-5 on the turnaround.
Donegal came out with intent after the interval. A monster of a score from Jamie Brennan gave Donegal a two point lead. They followed that up with Murphy, Brennan and McBrearty all firing over scores. Ultan Kelm’s point from distance was Fermanagh’s first score of the half and Conall Jones sailed over a close range free to bring the lead back within touching distance.
Fermanagh’s best effort on goal came in the 68th minute when Daniel Teague’s effort was scrambled off the line by the Donegal defence. That would have pulled Fermanagh level, but it wasn’t to be. Murphy, Breenan and McBrearty all fired over late scores to leave the deficit too much for a Erne comeback.
Fermanagh now take their place with 15 other teams in Monday morning’s qualifier draw on RTÉ Radio 1. The draw will be broadcast live on Morning Ireland and GAA.ie just after 8.30am.
Dates and venues for each game will be confirmed by the CCCC on Tuesday afternoon. The first team drawn in each tie will have home advantage, except in cases where a Division 1 or 2 team is drawn against a Division 3 or 4 side. In those instances, the teams from the bottom two tiers will play at home. The prize for the winners is a place in round 2 of the qualifiers, where they’ll meet the eight beaten provincial semi-finalists.
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