Fermanagh triumph at Clones - full report

Fermanagh 4-13 Monaghan 2-11

Rory Gallagher set a new Ulster Championship scoring record with a thumping 3-9 as Fermanagh overcame Monaghan at Clones.

Gallagher showed just why he is one of Gaelic football's hottest properties with a remarkable display of cool and clinical finishing.

His haul included two penalties and five frees, but each score was executed with the touch of a master, and the biggest cheer of the evening was reserved for his coup de grace a minute from the end, when he punched to the net to complete his hat-trick.

The game was just five minutes old when Raymond Gallagher combined with Stephen Maguire to send Tom Brewster through one-on-one with goalkeeper Shane Duffy, and the Ennis Killen Gaels man kept his cool, shooting low and accurately to the corner of the net.

But Monaghan refused to panic and patiently clawed their way back, closing the gap through JP Money and Damien Freeman, before Money brought the sides level with a superb effort in the 19th minute.

And they sensationally took the lead two minutes later when Raymond Ronaghan crossed from the left, picking out the unmarked Thomas Freeman, and he made no mistake from close range, giving Dermot Feeley no chance.

But Rory Gallagher's move to centre forward solved at least some of Fermanagh's problems.

He gave injected into the attack improved shape and movement, kicking two points himself and setting up defender Shane McDermott's 33rd minute leveler.

Monaghan, however, applied a super-charged finish to the half. The Freeman brothers were both on target, and the creative Ronaghan sent Rory Woods through for an explosive finish to the roof of the net four minutes into injury-time.

That score gave the Farney county a 2-7 to 1-6 interval lead, but Dermot McDermott's ankle-tap trip on Rory Gallagher gave Fermanagh a penalty three minutes into the second half, and Gallagher's expertly struck kick brought his side to within a point.

And he followed up with an equalising free kick before netting a second penalty on 12 minutes after cousin Raymond had been upended.

And Gallagher completed his hat-trick a minute from the end of normal time when he punched home Ronan McCabe's cross.

Monaghan: S Duffy, P McKenna, D McDermott, C Flanagan, G McQuaid, A Rooney, D Clerkin, J Hughes, E Lennon, JP Money (0-3), R Woods (1-0), J McElroy (0-1), D Freeman (0-4), R Ronaghan, T Freeman (1-3).

Subs: H Malone for D Freeman, D McArdle for Woods, F Money for McElroy, R Treanor for Clerkin, N Corrigan for Rooney.

Fermanagh: D Feeley, B Owens, P McGuinness, M Lilly, S McDermott (0-1), J Gilheany, N Cox, P Brewster, M Greene, R Johnston (0-1), S Maguire, T Brewster (1-0), Raymond Gallagher (0-1), Rory Gallagher (3-9), C Bradley.

Subs: Liam McBarron for Greene, M McGrath (0-1) for Maguire, C Donnelly for Bradley, R McCabe for Cox, S McCabe for Raymond Gallagher

Referee: M Monahan (Kildare)