Monaghan progress with second-half blitz as Fermanagh challenge fades

Monaghan 1-12 Fermanagh 0-6:Monaghan booked their place in the semi-final of the Dr McKenna Cup with this deserved victory over Fermanagh in Inniskeen last night

Conditions on the night were difficult and did affect the standard of play but there was still a derby edge to the proceedings with these sides due to meet in the Allianz Football league in a few weeks’ time.

Fermanagh looked sharp out around the middle of the pitch but finishing was the problem as it took them all of 23 minutes to open their account through a Paul Ward free.

By that stage Monaghan had three points on the board all from Owen Duffy, two from frees and they should have been further ahead but for some poor finishing that saw them hit eight wides in all in the half.

Fermanagh had it down to the minimum entering the final five minutes but Monaghan finished well for points from Dick Clerkin and Owen Duffy to lead by three at the break, 0-5 to 0-2.

The introduction of Darren Hughes and Paul Finlay early in the second half saw Monaghan take an increasing grip on proceedings.

They went on to blitz Fermanagh with an unanswered tally of 1-6 between the 14th and 27th minutes, the goal by Dermot Malone, in the 27th minute, effectively sealing victory.

MONAGHAN: R Beggan, O Coyle, D Wylie, C Galligan, F Kelly 0-1, N McAdam, M McElroy, G McArdle, D Clerkin (0-2), S McQuillan (0-1), P Donaghy, S Smyth, O Duffy (0-5, two frees), K Hughes 0-1, D Malone (1-0). Subs: D Hughes 0-1 for G McArdle (47), P Finlay 0-1 for S Smyth (49), K O’Connell for C Galligan (61), O’Neill for P Donaghy (68), D Hahessy for D Malone (68).

FERMANAGH: C Breen, N Bogue, A McGuinnessJ Irvine, M O’Brien, D Kelly, A Breen, J Sherry, M McGrath, N McElroy, K Connor, R Hyde, P Ward (0-6, five frees), S Quigley (0-1, free), C McAleer. Subs: S Carters for C McAleer, N McElroy for K Connor (both ht), S Lyons for R Hyde (52), N Shannon for A Breen (52), B Owerns for A McGuinness. Referee: S McNamee (Tyrone).