Donegal 2-12 Fermanagh 0-11: Since emerging as a force five years ago Donegal have often demonstrated the ability to win games in devastating spells, and they did so again yesterday — this time with 14 men — to swat Fermanagh aside in Ballybofey.

Fermanagh 1-13 Antrim 0-08: They struggled with the favourites tag, but Fermanagh finally got to grips with their nerves and kicked 1-3 in the dying minutes to get past 14-man Antrim yesterday.

When pushed on it afterwards, Aogán Ó Fearghail insisted he was referring to himself more than anybody else, writes John Fogarty.

ARMAGH’S inspirational double act of Steven McDonnell and Ronan Clarke are poised to finally team up again for the 2012 Championship.

IT’S not usual for this column to open with a mea culpa directed at Gaelic football fans of the northern counties, but there’s no way out of it.