Fermanagh’s Ulster Championship dreams shattered by Donegal
FT score: 2-18 to 0-12
By Sarah McKinley
Fermanagh's wait for a first Ulster title continues - after the Erne men were well beaten in a one-sided final - losing by 12 points to Donegal
St Tiernach’s park was at full capacity – Ulster GAA said 28,780 supporters came out to enjoy the match.
Fermanagh lined out aiming to make history in their first senior Ulster football final in 10 years, but these hopes were soon thwarted by a dominating Donegal side.
Sean Quigley took the first score of the day for the Erne men, at the seven minute mark from a long range free. This was responded to quickly with an equalising point.
Even with a few wides from the Declan Bonner’s side, they made Fermanagh’s early start seem like a distant memory.
Eoghan Ban Gallagher soon fisted a score into the net 16 minutes in to finish off Paddy McBrearty’s assist, and Ryan McHugh right footed another shot past the keeper in this first half too.
The favourites put seven shots over the bar before half time, including an impressive long range free from their captain, Michael Murphy.
This left the half time score at 2-7 to 0-5.
The second half saw Fermanagh lose midfielder Ryan Jones - he was sent off after being shown his second yellow of the day. Seamus Quigley came on at the interval to join his brother Sean on the field –the Erne brothers scored 8 points between them.
By contrast, Donegal made good use of their talent as they saw ten of their men score.
Five minutes of added time were evidently not enough for the losing side to claw it back, especially given that only half of their 12 points were scored from play.
Winning by two goals and six points, Donegal were crowned Ulster Champions again for the first time since 2014.
The presence of DUP leader, Arlene Foster, a canine pitch invader in the second half and unbelievable weather competed for the limelight in Monaghan.
No doubt this did not take thrill away from the now nine-time provincial champs, who will take the Anglo-Celt cup back to the hills of Donegal for another year