Fermanagh honesty triumphs as Donegal press self-destruct

All Ireland SFC Qualifier Fermanagh 1-10 Donegal 0-12 Nothing is impossible. Fermanagh, abandoned and unloved at the beginning of the season, are into the All-Ireland quarter-finals against all odds. Their season - and in particular this game - is a shining proof of the old truth that, in sport, nothing matters like honesty.

Some 16,581 people showed up in Clones on an overcast and fitful kind of afternoon, more reminiscent of an autumn league match than a high-summer championship encounter.

This match was never going to be best in show: the closeness of both counties means that football inevitably gets lost in the politics and pettiness and familiarity that exists between the teams. Never as vibrant or appealing as they were against Cork, Fermanagh were still full of running and heart and their unassuming ethic made several big Donegal names look pampered and impetuous in a way that won't easily be forgotten.

Much as there is to celebrate in the noble nature of Fermanagh's big day, the more compelling story of the day was Donegal's spectacular and seemingly wilful self-destruction. From the beginning, they gave the sign of a team pulling two different ways. Colm McFadden's decision to stand alone, away from his team-mates for the National Anthem, was an uneasy symbol of things to come. Over a long, draining afternoon, things slowly fragmented.

Brendan Devenney, raging against referee John McQuillan's failure to protect him, was sent off after needlessly tripping his man on 58 minutes.

He pushed the referee three times before departing the field, a gesture that was as incredible as it was sad and given the edict issued from on high recently, he may well suffer a year's suspension.

The folly of that act was compounded by Stephen McDermott's equally heedless dismissal in extra time. Donegal managed a single free in those 20 minutes and squabbled over who should kick frees - not that it mattered: they kicked 18 wides on the day, blowing three chances in extra time to push ahead.

Such behaviour was a betrayal of the faith and time Brian McEniff has invested not just in this team but in Donegal football.

It was also a slap in the face to those Donegal players who battled on in the face of such nonsense - the defence worked its socks off, with Barry Monaghan, Niall McCready, Shane Carr and Ray Sweeney outstanding, while Roper, John Gildea, Brendan Boyle and Kevin Cassidy also gave their all.

Donegal started promisingly, confidently firing three points, but thoughts of a comfortable afternoon were banished by Fermanagh's 13th- minute goal, a sweet movement initiated by Barry Owens and involving Ray Johnston and James Sherry before Eamon Maguire fired confidently past Paul Durcan. For the next 10 minutes, Fermanagh played their most pleasing football, with Colm Bradley swinging over a fine point to create a hometown atmosphere around Clones.

They led by a point at half-time and signalled their intent when Marty McGrath hauled down the ball from the throw-in and cantered into the heart of the Donegal resistance to fire a point.

At this stage, the Donegal problems were no longer confined to mindset and McEniff reorganised to try and restore some balance. There followed a 15-minute period when Donegal forgot their angst and just played really fine football.

They banged over four points without reply, with Toye and Sweeney making scoring look the most simple act in the world.

Brian Roper gave the team a two-point lead with a brilliant move involving Toye and Gildea, whose last hour in a Donegal shirt was a distinguished one.

Then came the key moment, when McDermott broke free and rushed towards goal: with Devenney free on his left, he elected to hammer his own shot. A goal would have ended the contest; instead, the ball cannoned off Niall Tinney and five minutes later Devenney was gone.

Free of stars, the Fermanagh team just found ways of staying alive.

Centre back Shane McDermott careered upfield and fired a point. Then, with three minutes left Marty McGrath had the poise and bravery to kick the equaliser. Donegal had one last chance: Brian Roper chased down a lost cause of a ball, recovered it and brilliantly worked his way into space. With the posts looming, he clipped what would have been the winner inches wide.

There and then was the sense there could be no happy end for Donegal or McEniff.

Extra time was bleak. Two frees, from Maguire and Tom Brewster, were enough to put Fermanagh into what proved an unassailable position.

Donegal, handed numerous opportunities to retrieve the situation, shot wides that were scandalous. But in the broader scheme of things, errant shooting was the least of their problems.

Gifted as many of the younger players may be, they could have done worse than to look at Fermanagh afterwards to glean a fundamental understanding of what the game is about.

The Lakeland County will return to Croke Park as rank outsiders but that won't bother them. The lads who walked away from Fermanagh must be looking on in envy.

This team play with the fearlessness of youth and only when the championship has ended will their achievements hit home. Whatever happens from now on, they can hold their heads high.

FERMANAGH: N Tinney; N Bogue, B Owens, R McCluskey; T Johnston, S McDermott (0-1), D O'Reilly; M McGrath (0-2), L McBarron; E Maguire (1-0), S Maguire (0-4, frees), M Little; C O'Reilly, J Sherry, C Bradley (0-2). Subs: T Brewster (0-1, free) for McBarron (blood sub 3-35 mins), D Kelly for D O'Reilly (27 mins), P Sherry for Bogue (45 mins), Brewster for O'Reilly (46 mins), H Brady for McBarron (53 mins), S Goan for McCluskey (67 mins), M Murphy for J Sherry (77 mins), McCluskey for Brewster (83 mins), D McGrath for S Maguire (88 mins).

DONEGAL: P Durcan; N McCready, R Sweeney, N McGinley; K Lacey, B Monaghan, S Carr; J Gildea (0-1), B Boyle; P McGonigle, M Hegarty (0-2), B Roper (0-2); C McFadden (0-1, free), A Sweeney (0-3, one free), B Devenney (0-3, two frees). Subs: C Toye for McFadden (34 mins), S McDermott for McGonigle (half-time), B Dunnion for McGinley (42 mins), K Cassidy for Toye (67 mins), R Kavanagh for J Gildea (extra time), J Haran for Roper (82 mins), S Cassidy for A Sweeney (88 mins).

Referee: J McQuillan (Cavan).