Gallaghers electric in Fermanagh glory

Fermanagh: 3-12

Raymond Gallagher 1-2 (one free); Rory Gallagher 0-5 (two 45, three frees); S Maguire 1-1; R Johnson 1-0; S King 0-2; T Callaghan 0-1; S McDermott (0-1).

Monaghan: 1-10

K Tavey 1-1; D Smith 0-4 (two frees); C McCaul 0-2; D Freeman 0-2; D Clerkin 0-1.

Referee: E Murtagh (Longford). Booked: Fermanagh - B Carty, P Brewster, S King; Fermanagh - M Slowey, N Marron, K Tavey. Sent Off: None.

Just about everything which earmarks championship football at this time of year was on display in Enniskillen yesterday; two sides fighting for a go at the big shots, the skill often replaced by desperation, and in the end, that bit more strength held by the victors enough to send them through.

Still, it certainly contrasted to when these sides met at a similar stage last year. Fermanagh have grown in stature since that win - their first in eight years - and looked the far more capable side for most of this lively encounter.

But to the credit, an immature Monaghan managed to produce a determined fight-back just as they realised their summer clock was rapidly ticking out. At least they made it interesting.

What they never managed to do was get in front. Fermanagh strolled through the first quarter hour as if their rivals had stones in their shoes and were 1-4 ahead before Monaghan could find a score.

In the opposite corners up front, Raymond Gallagher and Shane King ran wild and free. And in the middle, Stephen Maguire was superbly adept with every ball that came his way.

Together, they caused havoc for the Monaghan defence. In goal, Glenn Murphy didn't know what was hitting him for the first five minutes as both Kieran Donnelly and Raymond Gallagher forced him into making the most stretching of saves.

Then, after eight minutes, the inevitable. King played in a floating ball from the right and, with his first sniff at goal, Maguire rumbled the net.

All the while, Monaghan were giving away possession like loose change. Before long, Rory Gallagher was showing his ability from the placed ball and one started to wonder when or if Monaghan would start to play. Finally, they settled. Declan Smith broke the famine on 21 minutes after Ryan Treacy and Mark Daly gradually found their feet at midfield, showing at least some bit of challenge to the dominance of Paul Brewster and Liam McBarron.

Then, without any real warning, the balance of play completely shifted. Crucial to that was Monaghan's goal just after the half hour. It was the first real lapse in the Fermanagh backs but the move, started by Damien Freeman and first executed by Daly, was impressive. Kieran Tavey was first in for Daly's rebounded shot and sparked real hope for Monaghan.

With two points from Dick Clerkin and Smith, the last moments of that half were all Monaghan. Rory Gallagher shot one more free before the end, but 1-7 to 1-3 was certainly closer than Fermanagh would have guessed.

Then came the most spirited Monaghan period of all. Three points in succession, the most memorable from Freeman's pick-up from Gerry McQuaid, and the gap was suddenly at the minimum. You could almost hear the alarm bells ringing in the Fermanagh dug-out.

Almost immediately, they woke up. The full forwards charged with renewed ferocity and, when King chipped a ball through for Johnson, it looked to be a certain goal. Murphy made another courageous block, but on the rebound, Johnson made no mistake.

A couple more points exchanged hands but, even at that stage, Monaghan's revival seemed to be running dry. And right on the hour, Maguire popped through once more and, with the perfect ball to Raymond Gallagher, it was goal number three.

It was just about enough to leave manager Pat King with a satisfied mind. "I am pleased that we were able to pull away and win comfortably in the end," he said. "In fact I think we were capable of winning by a lot more.

"We did start cruising a bit too much before the end of the first half, and they won a lot more breaking ball around midfield. Happily we got it back and had the men where we needed. If we hadn't had that lull then it would have been a very good afternoon."

So Donegal await on June 11th and there's plenty of optimism. "We've been working at this for some four years now," added King. "And I think our defence more or less dealt with everything that was thrown at them. Donegal will be different, but we've got time to do a bit of work."