Monaghan battle through Fermanagh test

BATTLE: Colm Lennon of Monaghan and Conor McShea of Fermanagh. Pic: Andrew Paton

Fermanagh 0-12 Monaghan 2-09 

Despite a sluggish start Monaghan came good in the end at Brewster Park to book their place in the semi-finals of the Dr McKenna Cup with victory over Fermanagh.

Fermanagh made the most of the early running and moved into a four-point lead after 13 minutes.

The first score came after two minutes when Fermanagh's Ultan Kelm jinked onto his left foot and scored.

Five minutes later Conor Love ran onto a ball over the defender's head and drilled over the bar with Brandon Love pointing from distance with 12 minutes played.

Monaghan sparked into life shortly after as Jason Irwin opened the Farney account.

Goalkeeper Darren McDonnell the added from well out the pitch, 0-04 to 0-02.

Kelm knocked over a free for a foul on Love from which the lively attacker picked up a knock and was replaced by Sean Cassidy.

Shortly after, the impressive Kelm found a small bit of space to point and then Garvan Jones hit a great free from the sideline and it was 0-07 to 0-03.

Stephen Mooney did well to gather a ball and claim a mark under pressure which he duly scored.

With 30 minutes played, good play involving Monaghan midfielders Francie Hughes and Gary Mohan, who slipped the ball for Andrew Woods to palm to the net to leave it all square at the break.

Fermanagh almost had an instant response when a free off the post was gathered by Tiarnan Bogue who passed to Cassidy but he dragged his shot wide.

The early stages of the second half saw the teams trade scores. Barry McBennett and Woods for Monaghan and Jones and goalkeeper Ross Bogue for Fermanagh.

Fermanagh moved in front as they turned the next kickout and won a free which Kelm pointed, 0-10 to 1-06.

But Monaghan put daylight between them when Joel Wilson pointed and O’Hanlon’s attempt at a point dropped over a retreating Ross Bogue who had been caught out the field after a Monaghan turnover.

Fermanagh would not get any closer than two points in the closing stages.

Fermanagh: R Bogue (0-01); JJ O’Brien, C Cullen, L Cullen; P McGovern, O Smyth, C McManus; B Horan (0-01), T Bogue (0-01); R Lyons, S McGullion, D McCusker; U Kelm (0-04, 2f), G Jones (0-03, 1f), C Love (0-01) 

Subs: S Cassidy for Love (23), C McShea for McGovern and C McGee (0-01) for Lyons (H/T), O Murphy for McManus (59), A Breen for Kelm (68), D Owens for McGullion (74).

Monaghan: D McDonnell (0-01); B Walker, K Lavelle, K Loughran; C Lennon, K Duffy, K Sheridan (0-01,1M); F Hughes, G Mohan; C McNulty, S O’Hanlon (1-00), B McBennett (0-01); A Woods (1-01), S Mooney (0-02,1F,1M), J Irwin (0-01) Subs: S McCarthy for Duffy (33), M McCarville for Hughes (H/T), M Hamill for Irwin (40), J Wilson (0-02) for Mohan (44), J McCarron for Woods (55), D Treanor for McCarron (68) 

Referee: Ryan Walsh (Dun na nGall)