Monaghan v Fermanagh The Championship

Hi. The Champion hp is back. We are back. It's good to be back. BBC

Sport NI is ready and so too as it happens is the province of Ulster.

This sport, it's a challenge, and unless you are going to rise to that

challenge, recognise it, react to it, I don't think there is point

being there. I think it's a very special competition. It does create

a very unique atmosphere. There is tension, a lot at stake. It's a

precious cooker environment with players and everybody involved in

it. In any given Sunday, anybody can win. So, in terms of performance it

goes out the window. We would be acutely aware of that. All the games

are really heavily contested. And draw big crowds.

It is a special competition. I know certainly from my point of view

having grown up going to the championship matches as a cub. Long

may it continue and everyone of the nine Counties willing going flat out

to try to win this year. It's the most competitive in the country, we

have always said that. Other people don't always believe it. We

certainly do. You have three or four division one teams in it so it's

going to be highly competitive and I think it's making for a fantastic

five or six weeks. Rollercoaster, great craic. Can't wait. I don't

think anybody would be brave enough to separate the runners and riders

at this stage of the game. We feel we have left the last two behind us

and we feel we have scores to settle and wrongs to put right. I think

it's the most important time of the year for any footballer in Ulster. I

have fond memories, 13 years of Ulster Championship. It's the place

to be. It's something I always, whether, whatever the league form

was, whoever you were playing, I always loved it, loved the

atmosphere. You live off it and it's there to win it and it burns

brightly in every County. The Counties who win it, they'll know

they've been through the mill. They know they've won something very,

very significant. It would be like finding the Holy Grail. Intense. You

look at the crowds that go to it, how much it means to a team to win

those championships. It's a great time of year, everybody is full of

hope. So we are looking forward to getting going. There's no place like

Clones on a July Sunday, no matter, Croke Park and all the other places,

there's something special about it. It's the only place to be. And so

they come, first a tribute, then a torrent. Two teams, two tribes. The

blue of Monaghan and the green of Fermanagh. But who will prevail? The

rainbow is coming. The Championship awaits.

Good evening everyone. Great to have your company over the next few

hours. The respective managers are ready. Clones is ready and so is

BBC's championship team. From Crossmaglen and beyond to the Glens

of Antrim, we have you covered. Martin and Oisin are your guides and

of course in addition to their opinions, we would love to hear from

you. The contact details will pop up along the screen. That should be

them. Facebook, Twitter, all the social media outlets and postcodes

too welcome. For that matter, both of you very welcome in order of

seniority, Martin, today you expecting to begin with a bang or a

whefrper? Thank you, Mark. Looking at it from an Ulster point of view,

I just feel that this Monaghan team have underachieved. People might say

there is 50,000 people living in Monaghan and everything else and

they've overachieved, my opinion with the players they've

underachieved. When you see the performance this year in the league,

up to Dublin, could have beaten Dublin. Beat Kerry and Mayo away

from home. I am looking forward to it. Donegal and Tyrone have

overachieved. But I believe this Monaghan team, I am looking forward

to seeing them, they've the best defence outside the two big in the

country, they've a brilliant goalkeeper and up front now three

quality forwards in the forward line. McManus and Carthy. He is

probably as good as any of them. McCarthy. From that point of view I

am looking forward to seeing this Monaghan team, at the age they're

at, they're the same age at the time where I was myself when we won an

All-Ireland. Even Donegal in 2012. It's a massive year for Monaghan.

Started mind games already, hasn't he! You think he is... Talking up

Monaghan. Trying to keep Donegal's duck away from turbulent waters. We

will look at the teams predictions and preface that by saying it looks

like there might be three teams in it if you can render us experts. How

big is the gap There is a considerable gap. When I look at the

top teams in Ireland, within those top six teams are three teams from

Ulster. The question we are all requesting is can those three teams

step up and challenge for an All-Ireland? As far as the Ulster

Championship is concerned it will be competitive. Teams will take scalps.

Monaghan, Tyrone and Donegal are ahead of whatever else we have in

the Province. Before we get the team news let's run you through the BBC

team predictions for this year's 2017 Ulster Championship.

Well, a quartet of us there. For once Mark agreeing with Oisin.

The immediate thing, Martin, that jumps at me there is just one going

for Tyrone. Of course they're the reigning champs. Mickey will be

loving that! You can't write off Tyrone. I think from their point of

view they've, of the squad of players they've probably the best

squad in Ulster. But maybe the thing is upfront has been their problem.

Maybe from their own point of view playing too defensive. Maybe it's

time to do what Dublin and Kerry have done, let's open up a bit. The

man who tipped Tyrone is pitside, that is Thomas Kane. We have endured

almost every possible weather condition here over the last half

hour. Heavy rain, thunder, and lightning about 20 minutes ago. The

good news is the skies are blue. It has meant that the surface here is

very, very greasy. A number of the players changed boots before coming

out. Most of the squads are wearing gloves. In terms of team news, both

sides are playing as selected which is very strange for Malachy

O'Rourke, he normally likes to mix things up before a game. All the

talk is about that Monaghan forward of Connor McManus and Jack McCarron,

how will they combine? How about Fermanagh cope? Their big problem

during the league was conceding goals and also not scoring enough.

How will they cope with those two players? Maybe one advantage from a

Fermanagh perspective, if you look up there, Darren Hughes not

available for the majority of the Ulster Championship. He is out

injured. Maybe around the middle sector of the pitch they'll have to

play Hughes in a more fundamental midfield role and with the likes of

Donnelly in there. That's one area Fermanagh feel they might have the

edge. Thank you. So thunder and lightning

heralding the awakening of the Ulster Championship. Let's look at

Monaghan, Darren Hughes is out. This squad can absorb his loss

potentially. There is a lot of experience there. Yeah, there is.

When you look at them defensively they're very strong. Beggan is one

of the best goalkeepers in the game. He can kick a couple of scores from

long distances. It's a good fullback line. I would like to fast forward

if I could to that full forward line. They can do a lot of damage.

McCarron, we all see him as a young lad who has been unfortunate with

injure, he is 25. He is not lacking in experience. I don't think he will

be fearful of the occasion. I don't think we are talking about somebody

who is new to the set-up or the game. There's been a couple of

occasions he has almost come on the scene and is almost done it but

always been set back with injure. I think this is his time. Unburdened

by injury at the moment and has had a good league. I think the biggest

thing for him is he has a run of games and never had that before. You

can see his confidence growing. One question mark, can him and McManus

compliment each other? Can they? So far they haven't proven they can do

that. I believe they can. I just think they need big days like this

and I think they need to prove that one man inside, one dropping off,

get the ball into him. One of the tricks as an inside forward is you

want to score. You want to get 1-6 and 1-7, if it's a day you are

marked and your partner can get the scores on the board, are you willing

to sacrifice your game? They've yet to prove that during the league. I

think it's something that will come and it's a marriage made in heaven

if you ask me. I would love to be playing inside alongside either of

those players. Love your reference to... That trick of yours, you know,

picking it off the ground! Fermanagh, conversely, look, we are

on the cusp of Fermanagh, you could probably kick a ball into the County

here. I expect about 8,000. This is an inexperienced squad. Their

under-21s were hammered against Cavan. From their point of view it's

disappointing. Eight players missing from the team that played against

Mayo last year. Fermanagh can't afford to do that. O'Brien, he

marked McManus. We look at O'Brien's gone, James McMahon has gone. From

that point of view, it's disappointing the players they've

lost. Ryan Jones, massive loss around that midfield area. It's a

big ask for them. Upfront they've the two players in Quigley and

Corrigan. We see him there, he is a leader. They become very important

and leaders for Fermanagh, great talker in the dressing room.

Brilliant in the dressing room. He will have them Fermanagh players up

for this match. A local derby, a big performance from him. He is to lead

and he has to lead from the start. A big game for Fermanagh. They've

nothing to lose. They've got to go for it and go early. OK. Thank you.

Now our team wants to meet your team. What's going on at your

ground? Has your club an event planned? We want to shoot the

breeze, contact us via Twitter and e-mail, let us know, we might pop

around for a brew as we did with St James in Aldergrove on a recent

cycle. St James Aldergrove has been here 50 years, with over 300 members

playing Gaelic football. 14 teams between ladies football and men's

football. Right through from under sixes up to senior level. Aldergrove

is the main parish here. We have been in this site about 30 years. We

are hoping to redevelop and keep going further and further. We are

facing a challenging situation that we need a new clubhouse. That's part

of the reason why today's going, it's to help raise funds. Today the

club's doing a sponsored cycle of the Lough. We have at least 200

cyclists on the road doing 77 miles or 10 K loop of Crumlin. Ulster

football championship is brilliant. Great. Fair football. Hard draw as

usual against Donegal. But sure when you are an Antrim supporter it's

always a hard draw. I will be saying a lot of prayers. On any day anybody

can be beaten. That's what lesser teams have to use that to their

advantage. We are going to win. This is our year. Antrim this year will

win. We are up against stiff competition. But we are not shy. We

are not afraid. We are going to take it this year. Not sure what the

smoke was there. Maybe that fan is going up in smoke! In a moment we

will talk to Pete McGrath. Let's go to Thomas once more.

If you think there are debates going on in the studio, this is where the

banter and fun takes place. We are alongside a Monaghan man, what is

your name? Frank McKenna. Not far from the town. Why will Monaghan

when? They are stronger team, coming off like that very strong national

league performance and Fermanagh will not be easily beaten but

Monaghan is good enough. Who should we look out for? Around the middle

of the field, Conor McManus. Thank you. That is a Monaghan viewpoint,

all of the fans said they would not appear on camera, they were scared!

Especially this month! We will make our way across to get the Fermanagh

viewpoint. What is your name and what do you think will happen? Mary

Cullen, I have two boys on the team. They will put in 100% in the

training and we hope today that they give 100% over 70 minutes and who

knows? We perhaps can have a good result. Are you proud to have twins

playing here? I am very proud of the boys, they have always given 100% to

everything. I am hoping they will put in a good performance and

collectively, as a team, full team performance, they get a good result.

Quiet optimism amongst the Fermanagh fans, but Monaghan think they could

win the Ulster title. Man of the people! Both of you, Pete McGrath

was in a media storm, he was endorsing a candidate in the local

elections, as managers, will he be able to handle the destruction and

focus on today? He has more problems to worry about than that, the amount

of players missing, but he is experienced, that will not worry him

and he will want to get the team ready in the dressing room and of

all the tests he has had, this is one of the biggest. He has seen it

all and done it all, the other night he said he never loses sleep before

games, only afterwards. He does not get perturbed. Thank you. The

commentary team, Paddy Bradley and Thomas Niblock. Have a good one!

The fans getting ready for the start of the Ulster Championship, on a

Saturday night for the first time ever. Pete McGrath, a lecturer in 94

said Gaelic football is a reflection of life- good times, bad times, and

when the tough gets going, you dig in. And we will pause for the

opening of the Ulster Championship. APPLAUSE

The Saint Michaels band of Enniskillen with the pre-game

festivities. The club referee from Tipperary, shaking hands with the

Fermanagh players, his first time as a referee in the Ulster

Championship, we wish him the best of luck. The Monaghan players

getting ready, overwhelming favourites, are you expecting them

to win comfortably, Paddy Bradley? They are the favourites with the

bookies and after that league campaign, they were lucky not to get

to the league final and Fermanagah. Relegated to Division Three and

missing players, you feel that Monaghan should have won this. Both

of these teams' first games was anaemic handicap and this is the

opening game of the Ulster Championship. -- the McKenna cup.

Fermanagh, straight up the field. We will be to see what game we can

expect. Eoin Donnelly. Playing that short. Paul McCusker in possession,

decides to go back. Ryan McCluskey, the left-hand side, Aiden Breen,

Ryan Lyons. Ryan McCluskey spreading the play, Monaghan have everybody

back inside their own half. Conor Murphy, on his debut, giving that

the Barry Mulroney. The ball, the full forward line. Monaghan come

out, Drew Wylie, Colin Walshe and Monaghan building from the back. Can

he keep that in play? The referee says yes, here is Eoin Donnelly,

injecting some impetus into this. Looking for somebody off the

shoulder, the column. Tries to take the bounce. And he has done enough

to win the free kick. Decent build-up from Fermanagh, both teams

playing very defensively, lots of bodies behind the ball, pretty soft

free kick, interesting to see that again, you would expect Tomas

Corrigan to knock this over the bar. He had a fantastic season last year,

some of his free taking was mesmerising, missing large parts of

the league because of a calf strain, unique setup taking the free kick,

regimented. Playing club football in Dublin with Saint Oliver Plunkett.

Almost like Jonny Wilkinson in another sport. The run-up, right

foot. And we have the first score, three minutes gone, Fermanagh

living. That will settle them down. He missed large parts of the league

and that was one of the main reasons Fermanagh were relegated, they

relied very much on Sean Quigley. The passing side was from Karl

O'Connell. Ryan Brierley. Dessie Ward. Tackled by two Fermanagh

players. McCarron getting his hands on the ball for the first time. Long

ball inside, Kieran Hughes. He turns, on a sixpence. That is sheer

class. He drifts into the full forward line, brilliant score.

Playing at midfield today, no changes in terms of personnel before

throwing but he was moved straight into the edge of the square and that

has worked for Monaghan, the kick out for Fermanagh and after four

minutes, into the middle of the field... Monaghan picking up the

dirty ball. Carl O'Connell winning it. Conor McManus. Here is Walsh,

football Star. He left foot. -- football Star. Fantastic. And off

his left foot. Monaghan rotating the full forward line. An important

touch from Thomas Treacy. Under serious pressure and Fermanagh come

away with this. Monaghan pushed on the kick out and the forced Thomas

Treacy to go long, he went short and that could be costly. Here comes

Ryan McCluskey. Wylie using his body strength very well. And the first

battle of the day at the edge of the square goes for Drew Wylie. Sean

Quigley is very physical but Wylie is just as strong and well done to

him. And his brother, Ryan Brierley, to the left-hand side. Vinny Corey,

from Contra Brit. No sense of urgency. Incredibly patient

build-up. Monaghan still in possession. Looking for space, they

have found two of them, the referee says play on. That is a free out to

Fermanagh. Ryan McCluskey. The longest serving Gaelic footballer

playing the sport. Eoin Donnelly. Just bouncing over the head of

someone. That is a free for Fermanagh. We will see Sean Quigley

having a pop, 55 yards, difficult kick given the slippy conditions.

What about the opening five minutes? It started the way we would expect,

both teams very patient in their build-up, Fermanagh have the

potential to make things difficult for Monaghan, they have been very

strong in defence under Pete McGrath, this year they have been

looking too many goals in the league and are missing key personnel,

Monaghan will have to be patient, but just a case of winning this in

the first half, they will have to go quite -- right to the second half.

Sean Quigley taking his time. Taking the run-up. With his right boot.

Over the bar. Fantastic strike, that is something Sean Quigley can do and

that will settle him, Fermanagh will need the free kick checking of him.

Seven minutes gone. Monaghan coming out of defence, in the hands of Ryan

Brierley. Referee says infringement from Corrigan and that is a free

kick for Monaghan. Dessie Ward. Switching the focus of the played

down the left-hand side. Kieran Hughes. Dessie Ward, the referee is

blowing for an off the ball incident, he is straight in. It does

look like Kieran Hughes, he could be in trouble. Talking to him. The

referee says, come over, the first black card of the Championship and

what a blow for Monaghan! They are already missing Darren Hughes. You

can see that other side of the camera. Trip? Yes. It did look like

a late tackle on Hughes but he reacted and tried to trip the

Fermanagh player and you cannot argue? He will say it was Ryan Lyons

but you cannot argue that, in the rule book that a black card. We have

the first wide two-day from Fermanagh and Aiden Breen. That is a

big blow Monaghan. And with Darren missing midfield, but they have

others who can do the job. If Monaghan make it into the

quarterfinal they will have to do this with none of the Hughes

brothers. Kieran Hughes black card. That turn from Conor McManus, Karl

O'Connell, penetrating the defence. He finds the green Jersey, McCluskey

getting his hands to that. Mulrone switching play. Fermanagh have

started well. That is something that Ryan McCluskey does very well, with

his experience, Fermanagh on the attack. The black card means that

the player can come on to replace them and the person who has replaced

Kieran Hughes is Brian McGuinness be. He has seen a lot of play in the

last number of years. He will play around the half forward line. Ryan

McCluskey passing Mr Conor Murphy. One of three debutants for

Fermanagh. Cian McManus and Kieran Connor being the other two. Kieran

Breen, the 24-year-old. The body of front. -- nobody up front. Some

encouragement from the crowd. Mulrone has found help, Donnelly has

good feet. Passes into the running Breen and that is a very well worked

free kick. Fermanagh have started well, keeping the ball, not forcing

things. They could put the ball on to Sean Quigley. But they are

keeping the pace and the build-up. And with Tomas Corrigan and Sean

Quigley on form, why not? Free kick for Fermanagh. And an opportunity to

take the lead for the first time today. He closes his eyes and

composes himself. It's easier than the one he hit

earlier that floated over the bar. 11 minutes gone. The opportunity to

take the lead for the first time. Right-footed. Never really in

question, was it? No, bread and butter stuff, he will be delighted,

two from two. That's a nice start from him.

Monaghan, two points, Fermanagh three. The ball goes long straight

into the hands of Dessie Ward. The referee blew the whistle because the

mark has been introduced. We will see what impact that has later.

Fermanagh come out of defence yet again. McCluskey has seen a lot of

possession in the opening 11 minutes.

Here comes Pete McGrath's side. McCluskey again, seems to be

operating as a sweeper during the first half.

Looking for an opening, doesn't arrive so goes back. Donnelly has

found space. Will he be tempted to go for the score? He is not, he

passes it to Corrigan. Up against two Monaghan players. So does Ryan

Lyons. Will Monaghan foul? They don't, they stand off. One tackling

at a time and they strip Cullen out of possession. Good defence from the

Monaghan team. Here is McAnespie who replaced

Hughes for that black card. Dessie Ward making a Championship

debut today. The only one in the Monaghan team. Score from distance.

The umpires look at one another. Two points from Walsh. A man you rarely

would have seen scoring up until about two years ago. He started as a

kwarterback. You see his qualities there, one with the left and one

with the right. There is that black card again. Kieran Hughes, just

slides out of vision. But he tripped him after that and that was the

reason. If you go over the letter of the

law, I suppose he had to Fermanagh on the attack. The crowd

strangely very quiet. Three points each.

Here comes Lee Cullen. Mulrone looking for help. Has found

corrigan. Possession is snatched back again.

Conor Murphy did well. He is on the ground and eventually McAdam, not

for the first time this season, in winning the dirty ball.

Is it kept in play? Just about. McCarthy did well to keep that in

play. McAnespie finds McCarthy. Here is

McManus. Goes for the score. Uncharacteristically it goes to the

left and goes wide. When you saw that passage of play, all of a

sudden you realise there is lots of real point-getters and goal scores

in the Monaghan team. A poor kick out! Chance of a goal! It's scored

by Connor McManus and just as we mentioned a litany of attacking

threat, and there he is, Connor McManus, the goal scorer. From a

Fermanagh perspective, an absolute disaster. That came about from a bad

kick out, they had a lucky escape earlier, not this time. A real blow

for Fermanagh. They started this game really well.

They've started well but find themselves three points behind with

a quarter of an hour gone. On these moments Championship games can be

won and lost. Tried to make an immediate response. Referee says no

foul. Ryan Lyons saying he was fouled.

McManus goes for a score. Off the outside of the boot, goes to

the right and goes wide. Similar to the last shot from nearly exactly

the same position. The goal here, a fantastic finish. Kept kept it low

and hard and that's a hammer blow for Fermanagh who started really

well. They need to respond. It's obviously a policy to work on the

short kickouts and I suppose every team does that, on a night like

tonight with conditions slippy you cannot afford to give away mistakes

like that. Donnelly. Just glides with the ball

in the middle of that field. Tried to play it inside but Wylie out in

front, what a battler he is. Referee gives a free out eventually.

Monaghan on the attack. Again building from the back. Here

is Ryan Wylie. One of three fullback players who

played every single game of the League this year. Very well

experienced fullback line. Very used to playing with one another. Very

settled fullback line and probably one of the best in the Ulster

Championship. Definitely have the measure of this Fermanagh forward

line in the last four or five attacks. Keiry gets the score. Well,

that was the name we didn't mention in the attackers who were involved

in the leadup to that goal. Maybe we should mention him. Did well, showed

the dummy and knocked it over the bar. He was effective as a

centre-half forward. If a picture paints 1,000 words, perhaps that's

it. Five minutes into the Ulster Championship and sitting with a

black card, it's not what Hughes had planned for the day. He will be back

for the quarter-finals, should they get there. Ryan McCluskey wins the

breaking ball. The referee says... Gets a free and it's taken quickly.

McManus makes his championship debut today.

And rather by luck than design, that ball finds its way into the hands of

Corrigan. Just whacks it inside. Quigley does well to keep it in

play, but he doesn't, that was very tight. There is a real difficulty

for Fermanagh, they're trying to get the ball into the full forward line

but ever time they do it, the man, particularly Quigley, is crowded and

they can't get possession. Quigley is a very physical player and can

hold off most men but not Drew Wylie and he started well today. And

Thomas corrigan is being pushed further from goal, that's not what

you want, you want him closer to the post.

Walsh, already scored two points today.

Cory missed some of the league because of injury, so people weren't

sure if he was going to make it in time for The Championship, but he

does. Rock solid at the heart of that defence. But it's the attack

that sparkles. Shane Carey has been one of those players.

Dessie Ward, almost lost it. Did enough.

Walsh. Tried and failed to find Vinnie Corey. Fermanagh have set up

well, they're making things difficult for Monaghan. Pushing them

side to side. Another Fermanagh attack here.

Fermanagh still on Will he go for a score? Might hang

in the air. Quigley may have shrugged off Wylie

but unable to do the same with Beggan. A serious mistake! Chance of

corrigan coming in. Chopped down. The referee might have another black

card. Interesting to see the decision here. The Monaghan players

are surrounding... Independenting it's McAnespie. He is pleading his

innocence. It's going to be a free from the 13, but perhaps more

importantly is it going to be another plaque card? He seems to be

making contact with some of his officials. He has pointed where the

free should be taken. He is going in alongside Ryan Wylie. It doesn't

look as if he is going to give a black card. He is probably factoring

in the fact that Thomas Corrigan is a small player, was bending down

into the tackle, maybe it looked worse from up here. A chance of a

score at least for Fermanagh. Thomas Corrigan has had two frees

before this, both of them from further out field. On that basis you

would expect him to score this. Just about does. Yeah, just about. But

they all count. Was this a black card?

Probably not. When you see it up close again, probably not. A

definite free kick but probably nothing more. He lunges in. You have

to say the referee got that right. Yeah, a high arm but nothing more.

Correct decision by the referee. Three points between the sides. 15

minutes to go until the break. Monaghan on the attack yet again.

McCarron tries to thread it through, gives away possession.

Donnelly looking for help. Finds McCluskey.

Back to Donnelly again. Such a strong player. Fantastic ball

carrier. Drops it. It's won again. Fermanagh still have

possession. McManus switches play. Quigley,

perhaps frustrated he is not getting his hands on the ball.

McManus again. Late run by McCusker. Inside! A

chance of a goal! Fermanagh hit the net!

It's more than what they deserve. There is a man who is really

enjoying that! Perhaps the manager is more

composed. But that's a big kick and a big score for Fermanagh. Fantastic

goal and fantastic running. Fermanagh had pulled all their

forwards out. There was space in behind. Ryan Lyons had the

awareness. Great finish, down below the keeper, similar to the other end

of the field. It was a brilliant run, carried the ball 30 yards. He

waited until the Monaghan player approached him and popped it off to

the man inside. And it was easy as you like. Beggan had little chance

of saving that one. 23 minutes gone and perhaps those that feared the

worst whenever that mistake led to a Monaghan goal, will perhaps think it

might be a different story. That's a very poor kick.

Yeah, going back to that goal, that came back from the ball given away.

Somebody that scored 3-29 in the league, he has been forced out of

the field today. Donnelly, who again was important in that play leading

to the goal. Quigley gets the ball in his hands

yet again. Gives it to the onruning player off his shoulder. That man is

Conor Murphy. To Lyons. Back to Quigley.

Back to McCluskey. Again this laboured, patient move. McCluskey

finds space. Perhaps surprised no one is around him. Tries to give it

to Thomas Corrigan. Says he was fouled, not given. Quigley wins it.

Monaghan did well and forced them out the field. Donnelly goes for the

shot. Right-footed. Didn't work out. Very much wide. Remains a draw with

24 minutes gone. Pete McGrath folding his arms, he has been there

and seen it and done it so many times before. With Down and with

Fermanagh. He will be reasonably happy. Definitely. The game plan has

worked. Monaghan are under pressure. Fermanagh are well on top, he will

be delighted with how they've played the first half Kickout from Beggan.

The referee blows the whistle because of the mark.

O'Connell takes possession. You have to say Monday possession -- Monaghan

can find players. Ten, 1112 men behind the ball in their own 45.

When do you that one thing you can not do is give away silly frees like

that. He will take this one himself.

Kicking with his left foot. Difficult for his first attempt. He

has had a brilliant year, scoring 1-9 against Dublin in that Man of

the Match display, he has been -- everybody has been talking about him

but he has not had that happening for him. He has had to come out of

the field and is looking for ball. McManus, very tough, he ripped his

kidney playing in the MacRory Cup and played on until the end of the

match. That is a free kick for Fermanagh. And here is McManus, his

kidney prepared and ready to go. Championship debut. McCluskey gets

the ball to Cullen and he scores. And Fermanagh in the lead again. Leo

Cullen is usually at offender, I worked with him in Boston last year,

but that came about with Ryan McCluskey, orchestrating from

defence. One point between the sides and nine minutes to go until the

break. Long, into the hands of Wiley. That was a poor pass. Easily

gathered up by Donnelly, the midfielder defending. Here is the

full back. Che Cullen does well to find Aiden Breen. Conor Murphy.

Finding Barry Mulroy. Sean Quigley. Every time he gets his hands on the

ball he has further out the field. Eoin Donnelly, starting with that

interception and in the middle of the field, familiar territory,

chopped down with that high tackle. He will plead but he will not change

the mind of the referee. Strong running from Donnelly, one of the

top midfielders in the game and that gives Sean Quigley another chance to

kick this over the bar. Nobody has seen this coming. The correct

decision, that was a high challenge, Eoin Donnelly taking the bounce as

another player averages, the clothesline and there can be little

question that this is a free kick, although it does look worse in slow

motion. It is a very dangerous tackle. He is very lucky not to pick

up a yellow card. Free kick for Fermanagh. Just inside the 45, Sean

Quigley taking it. His first point of the day from similar territory,

it looks like he just does this with minimal effort but it floats over

the bar with plenty to spare. Lovely, lazy style. Sean Quigley the

top scorer for Fermanagh this year, 28 points. Already on 29 after

today. Only two from play. This one is a little short. Monaghan coming

away with it. Wiley. He does very well, closed down by two Fermanagh

players, evading both of them, starts another attack.

Shame Kerry has looked promising. Jack McCarron does well. Taking that

with his boot, goes for the scorer with a left foot, and drops short,

Thomas Treacy takes that with ease. Conor Murphy.

Six minutes until half-time, who is the better team? Fermanagh is the

better side, you are the underdogs and one point ahead, Monaghan have

been quite subdued, very quiet this evening and last year Monaghan

exited the Championship to Longford, that was a big blow. Monaghan have

it all to do. That defeat really Hurt Monaghan, Malachy O'Rourke took

several weeks to consider his position before committing to be

manager, that was a bad defeat. After that you wonder if he thought

he could take the team as far as he could. Three Ulster Championships.

There is no doubt that he is the man for Monaghan, he is a great manager

and we will see a response in the second half, just not yet. The ball

is in the hands of Ryan Lyons. He goes back. Eoin Donnelly. Finding

Tomas Corrigan. In the middle of the field. Donnelly taking the return

pass, looking for help, he has founded, tries to make his way

through, Conor Murphy is there, and the shot was wide, gathered by

Beggan. Strong man. Starting another attack, the conditions causing

difficulty for Ward, he maintains possession. Brian McAnespie.

O'Connell, his shot earlier went wide, his second was perfect. Level.

Whenever the main forward steps up, they need others to take

responsibility. Thomas Treacy, hands up, that is a sign for something. We

assume he will head that long. Into the path of Eoin Donnelly, he finds

himself with lots of space. Passing that again, Donnelly snatching

added, brilliant goal gaping. That ball was pretty much on the crossbar

and Beggan cottage, keeps that in play. I've can be the difference.

That goalkeeper is six Football on five. McAnespie, looking for help.

Kelly. Dessie Ward finding Conor McCarthy. He played for UCD in the

Sigurdsson Cup Final this year and they lost to St Mary's from Belfast.

Monaghan maintaining possession. Conor McCarthy again. Tempted to go

for the shot and he tries the dummy pass. He finds himself in space and

goes over the bar, the best point we have seen today. Inspirational

scoring, we know he has this in his mother. Fantastic player, whenever

the likes of Conor McManus are not firing on all cylinders, we need

other players to step up and he certainly did. Superb point, his

first today, one of them have their noses in front with three minutes to

go. Thomas Treacy, down the middle of the field, Donnelly getting his

hands on it but McAnespie with the breaking ball, there is urgency with

the Monaghan support, the passing is very tight and two Monaghan players

banging into one another but both back on their feet. The football

belongs in green hands, Mulrone finding McCusker. Into enemy

territory, Corrigan, Fermanagh could do with scoring, the left foot. The

umpires look at one another, fantastic. We talked about Conor

McCarthy, that beats it, great shimmy inside, brilliant score. He

was going with his right but whenever that was blocked, he

quickly switched onto his left and there is an tackle off the camera in

a moment, the referee might have to intervene, drop -- ball drops short,

it does look like some of the players were blocking. The referee

has blown the whistle. Fermanagh bench is quite animated. Here it is.

Conor McManus and Ryan McCluskey and as Conor McManus is getting up, his

feet seem to make contact with McCluskey, he is down, that is the

fourth official speaking to the referee, Derek O'Mahoney. His third

year on the Championship panel, he has had a very strong start, already

issuing a black card, he is not afraid to go for the big decisions.

This will be a big call. His feet definitely did make contact with

Ryan McCluskey but he is not a dirty player and whether or not that was

intentional remains to be seen. His last limb did seem to make contact.

It would be difficult to say on the basis of that evidence that but was

intentional. I don't think it was, Conor McManus would not be known as

a dirty player. It was just a tangle of legs. Conor McManus, the man who

scored the goal, relatively quiet, both of them wide and off target.

Whenever that mistake occurs, he can take advantage, no better man with

the ball in his hands. In years gone by, he has led that attack and has

scored nearly 50%. He has been very well marked in the first-half and if

Monaghan are to win, they will need both men to start firing on also

wonders. Derek O'Mahoney stopping the play. Consulting with his

officials but decides no intervention is necessary, good

refereeing. I think the referee has done well. Fermanagh on the attack

for too long, over carrying, the referee has brought this up another

ten yards. Giving McCarron or Conor McManus another chance before

half-time. One minute into injury time and a free kick Fermanagh him

inside the 45. And if this goes over, that gives Monaghan and one

point lead at half-time and if you were Pete McGrath watching, you

would be furious, that was not in the scoring zone when free was

committed and because he did not let go, the left but... Over the bar,

Monaghan leading by one. His first point of the day and who would have

thought we would have to wait for 37 months? Barring that goal they got,

and mistakes from the Fermanagh kipper, Fermanagh should be well on

top. Into the middle of the field, evading just about everyone.

McAnespie has been very good since coming on. Neil McAdam 's' path was

blocked up. McCarron. Superb block. Timed to perfection, Donnelly got

it. Paul McCusker regains possession yet again for Fermanagh, he slips

and is not the first person to do that. There was a small thunderstorm

just before throw-in, the referee says an infringement, free again for

Monaghan. 38 minutes gone. And you mentioned Brian McAnespie, he has

had a great game, very fit, his stats are through the roof in terms

of his ability to cover the ground. Free for Monaghan, taken by Conor

McManus. Looking at the target. He takes a deep breath. And that looks

good from here. And it is. And all of a sudden, you are talking about

Fermanagh leading at half-time and the very worst, drawing. Instead,

Monaghan leading by two as the referee blows his whistle. Malachy

O'Rourke, he does not look happy. Neither does Pete McGrath, that goal

they gave away and the fact they missed some chances, I thought that

Fermanagh were the better side. Monaghan living. Owen Lennon is

alongside me. He Monaghan selector. The head by two, what is your

assessment? It is one of those given its, it is slippy, Fermanagh is up

for it, defensive game, it is hard to break down, not hubby with

aspects but we will try to rectify some of these things. What

particularly? The first touch basics, disappointed with the goal

that we linked, we want to get on with matchups, man-to-man hopefully

improve for the second half. What about the black card? I did not

really see it. I was disappointed to lose a main player. We meant Johnson

is here. Your assessment? Disappointed there the last two

scores we gave to Monaghan. We conceded. They got easy turnovers.

We have taken a couple of pot shots from silly positions and that's cost

us because Monaghan are good at going forward. A frustrating goal to

give away, but how impressed were you with the way the team bounced

back? We gfted them the goal. A mishap by the keeper. But we showed

great resilience and good comeback and got back on level terms. It's

been nip and tuck. So, hopefully we have to push on now in the second

half and get the result. Will that edge benefit you? Yes, you know, we

worked hard now in preparation for this game. The boys are really up

for it. We are going to do everything in our power to get a

result here. How much have you benefitted from bringing Sean

Quigley out to field, you ran in after one of the scores and ushered

him to the centre half forward position, do you feel you are

reaping rewards of that? A couple of balls went into Sean early on and

defenders were getting the upper hand. By him coming out, it's

released space in behind him. We executed that with good pace for the

goal. If the space is in there hopefully we can exploit it more.

Thank you very much, I will let you get to the dressing room. That's the

view from both camps after a hugely competitive first half. Thank you,

right up to the speed. Before we hear, there's much to mull over and

something to exercise you over the half-time break, can you identify

our mystery player? Well apparently I called Oisin

Jarlath there! My apologies to Jarlath! Much to mull over. Let's

get straight into it. Monaghan of course start and they start very

well on the shape of Colin Walshe. Considering underfoot conditions,

and we talk about leaders and on about it before the match and he is

captain of Monaghan. The way he gets forward with blanket defence play

in, that's what you need. Particularly with Hughes now off the

field and Fermanagh are winning the midfield battle. One off his left

foot and one off the right. We are seeing a lot of this here. Players

are good footballers now being moved out and going forward like that.

Maybe when they get older they're back into the back line. A lot of

players don't like the full back line because you are not allowed to

express yourself. Heard a good story, I think one of the Donegal

lads, I think when you get a chance in the game get forward and kick

that point, it gives you a chance of getting an All Star, looks better

when you kick from corner back. Walshe started really well. It's not

all about All Stars. The black card and Owen said he saw little. We will

look at that. Hughes is a big loss. He looked sharp early on. It wasn't

a pre-prepared move or anything. He is synonymous with that sort of

thing, getting the ball early. He is also, unfortunately, for him, his

reputation goes before him. When it comes to silly things. It's usually

his discipline we are talking about. That's not necessarily discipline,

that's just silly. That's just... He will be absolutely kicking himself.

He will be enraged at how he was sucked into that. He is a massive

miss. A lesson he has to learn, you can't retaliate. Teams are going to

fire him up and do that to him. He is a fabulous footballer but he has

to get the discipline because he is too important to Monaghan. He is

letting teammates down and everything else. The fact Darren

wasn't there and then Keir isn't out there. Midfield is gone. Yeah. It's

hard to get... This might be a good lesson for him. Squabble on there! A

couple of other black card questions, let's look and see if you

are in agreement with the referee. Nothing in it he said. The Corrigan

incident. The black card, you have to have downward pressure or a kick.

He stops his hand. I thought it was definitely a yellow. Not a black

card but you see it here. I thought it was good play from Corrigan. As

soon as he seen the hand he got into it and went down. This one, was

there potential for black issued? McCluskey and McManus. I think

that's a black card, you are not allowed to stop a player. He stopped

McManus doing the job going forward. I felt looking at that I think that

was a black card. I don't think that was a black card, that's two players

tussling off the ball. Both players got up more or less and got on with

it. The thing about the black card is that it shouldn't be there.

That's the first thing. OK, but we are stuck with it. We are stuck with

it. It is there. We have to try and make the most of it. There was one

incident, don't know if we are going to see it, with Owen Donnelly. We

will look at that later on. Caught him around the neck in a dangerous

tackle, there was no yellow card, no black card. Then for the incident,

like Hughes, it's silly, but still to be out for the rest of the game

with a yellow not being enough? I am sure you will agree that it was

rather calamitous for Fermanagh to concede and you feel for the keeper.

You do and it's a debut and all that. I mean, I don't understand the

reluctance to kick it long. In the middle of the field Owen Donnelly

and Cullen have the better of the midfield. They're a lot bigger.

That's an obvious thing to say. But they have the better of them. In

fact, they've a bit of success when they kicked the ball long. I don't

understand the obsession, especially when the likes of McManus and

McCarron are pushing up and trying to force him to kick long and he

still kicked it short. You know what's interesting how many teams

cost the short kickout, teams, used to be an unwritten rule with

referees, if in doubt, give it out. I think the same thing with

goalkeepers. If you are not 100% sure, get it long. You are going to

be punished with a goal, at least if it goes long it takes a few kicks to

get the ball back in. You feel for the goalkeepers, it's down to

coaching and everything else, but you have to be sure. We will look at

Thomas Treacy redeeming himself in a moment. But Fermanagh did respond

and responded well with their own goal. Yeah, brilliant. I suppose the

one question mark you have about Monaghan and people say it about

Kerry, as well, if you run at them you cause them problems. The

decision made by McGrath, we talked before the match, the decision to

take Quigley out the field and ran at them, becaused them problems. You

are always going to get a player coming from deep without the ball.

The most dangerous players comes out with the ball.

Leer Ten seconds, we are going pitchside. That's the thing Malachy

O'Rourke will be displeased with. The last player chasing McCukser is

McCarron who should be at the other end of the field with McManus. He

has spent no time there the first half. As well as Hughes being a

miss, he is also a miss because he is intelligent enough to go there.

Thomas, you have one of Fermanagh's finest, all yours. The next

generation of Monaghan and Fermanagh players are taking part in a game

behind us. You are now the manager within Monaghan but your heart is

very much with Fermanagh, what do you make of the first half, did it

exceed expectations within Fermanagh, a performance like that

for the first 35? I suppose we hoped we had a baying game in us. Our

league, we didn't get the results. The last game we didn't play badly.

Both teams are replicating each other's style. It's cat and mouse in

the middle. We are keeping possession well. Excellent goal by

Ryan Lyons. Ryan finished extremely well. To me the game really is in

the melting pot. McManus is struggling to get on the ball.

McCluskey is playing excellently and cutting out the option to get the

ball in the first time. I think Pete McGrath will be happy at this stage.

When the Fermanagh players were arriving here at St Tiernach's Park.

I glanced into the dressing room and there was a huge sign saying,

belief. Will they believe they can kick on now and win this game? I

think at this stage definitely. To me by rights we should be in front.

You take that bad goal out with that short kickout, to me we were -- to

me we were the better team. It suits us, the style. We don't have the

ball inside. But again we are keeping possession well and if we

can pick off scores and be patient I feel the game will go to the wire.

It was a frustrating goal for Fermanagh to give away but you have

walked on the pitch, it's a dpraesy surface. Is this the kind of day you

forget What About Carlo the short kickouts and if you are Monaghan you

don't sacrifice possession from kickouts and push up? Exactly. I can

see why Tom is trying it. I feel it's one area we can win, with

Hughes gone and Darren not playing. I feel it's one area we can

dominate. We can get the kickouts long, win the ball in the area. If

we go direct at them we will be a real threat this half, yeah. Thank

you very much. One other thing, very interesting role played by the two

assistants. At every available opportunity they're sprinting on to

the field to give information across and in many situations they're

giving information to the same sector of the pitch so it's an

interesting mix and getting that information out quickly to the

players from the sideline can prove to be pivotal in the championship.

Thank you very much. You have ensured both of them will be fine at

Croke Park! Interesting observation. The match referee, there is an

assessor in the stand. Marks out of ten? There is a difference between

what I give and what an assessor will give, to the letter of the law

the assessor is probably saying he has had a brilliant game. A couple

of decisions... Here is the McAdom high tackle. Now to be fair, you see

it in real-time, that's what the referee is seeing. It looks more

serious from that angle. It looks a hell of a lot more serious when you

see it slowed down. When we were watching it we thought it was a

pretty rough tackle. Definitely yellow card. Referee is about a

metre away from that, two metres. He definitely should have called that.

Definitely should be some punishment. If we are going to sent

a lad off after ten minutes for a foot trip, then we need to punish

these other incidents. The rules are there. Hughes gets a black card

because the rule is if you trip it's a black card, the one thing we want

consistency with referees, and in that situation it was definitely a

yellow. Refereeing an Ulster championship game, you want to be

refereeing Ulster teams and seeing everything, it's different. He is

struggling, in my opinion, most referees come up for the first time

and struggle... Referees... The Cavan and Monaghan game last year,

the referee came up, I think it was - he landed up to referee it and he

said the lines, he asked them to reline the field, he wanted it

strong. That's the way they look at Ulster football, the difference

going on here. I think from his own point of view he is struggling a

bit. He didn't realise how intense this was going to be and everything

else out on the field. Hopefully he will have a chat with the people

with him in there. If this is too intense, I hope he doesn't get the

final! You need - it's different. The referees will say that. That's

probably fair, but at the end of the day... He hasn't had a howler out

there by any standard. Nor made any individual massive calls. They're

all tight calls. I appreciate the point you are making. You feel he

needs to be more familiar with Ulster. We are looking at the

marvels of the respective midfielders. Let's look at Cullen's.

You are impressed this came straight from the kickout. It's a fabulous

kickout. The keeper Treacy is very good. He shouldn't go short. We see

it here. It's a good kickout. Look at the runners again. If I was Pete

McGrath analysing that, run and run and keep running. When they run at

them they cause them problems because Monaghan are too deep.

That's a great score. Analyse that in the dressing room, plenty of

statsmen with each team. They're not getting nothing out of kicking long

balls. You see there, great. Fermanagh need actually to put a man

on him and mark him. He is causing problems, maybe not in the air, but

on the ground. He is one Monaghan player that's stood out. Walshe

early on but definitely O'Connell. Put a player on him to mark him.

Let's confirm for you who our mystery player was.

Here it is. Fine head of hair. And there you go.

Brendan Rodgers. Looking good! We thank him very much for that. He was

a star with Gary and Slaughtneil. Still sticking with Monaghan? Yes,

the thing about having somebody in the stand, something we have noticed

is they have left Ryan Lyons alone, Monaghan have said they will not

pick him up, he got on the end for the goal, Monaghan are better squad.

Let's hope the dark clouds are not foreboding. Commentary from Paddy

Bradley and Thomas Niblock. Thank you, back for the start of the

second half. It is beginning to drizzle. Two points between these

sides. The players getting stuck in. Here comes Eoin Donnelly, kicks it,

gives it away. Monaghan have possession, Wiley. Looking left and

right, nobody coming near him, he gives it to Karl O'Connell. Winning

that challenge very well. While the continuing his run, three different

players tackling McAdam. Jack McCarron, Gavin Devlin. -- Gavin

Doogan. The left-hand side, he goes for the shot. And it goes wide. In

the first half that was from further out, very ambitious. And that was it

worth wide. Forming the same patterns as the end of the

first-half, Fermanagh getting plenty of bodies behind the ball and

Monaghan struggling to break them down. Mulrone finding Aiden Breen.

Ryan McCluskey. He had a brilliant first-half. Ryan Lyons finding his

wingback, Murphy, shooting from distance, about 39 metres height and

the ball goes to the left and right. Two points remain the difference, 37

minutes gone. Ryan Lyons had, Sean Quigley was left one-on-one with

Wiley and that is not something you get often. The kick out is short.

Karl O'Connell tackled by two Fermanagh players, that was a good

tackle from Donnelly but Miley did well to pick up the pieces. Here is

Walsh. Plenty of space ahead of him. He gives up to the long-running

player. Batman is Ryan Brierley. -- that man. Is Ryan Wylie. Great turn

of pace. Spotting the gap. Monaghan and ten possession. McAnespie, Duffy

-- Doogan. At the 45 metre line. Walsh, scoring two first-half

points. To them trying to find some space. Fintan Kelly, he is short.

Ryan McCluskey has the ball in hand. Eoin Donnelly, Mulrone. It is Kane

Connor with the ball. Ryan McCluskey. Sean Quigley. He just

slowed up before he was about to collect it, enough for Drew Wylie to

get his hand in and off-camera, he is holding his shoulder. Drew Wylie

has been excellent in marking, not giving one moment. Monaghan on the

attack, Fermanagh, every player except one of them inside their own

half. Neil McAdam shooting from distance. Is this the first score of

the half? It is. Neil McAdam, wonderful point, his debut way back

in 2008, superb score. He is not scoring for scoring points.

Brilliant score. Monaghan really needed that. Fermanagh need to start

in this second half. They could do with the score. Tomas Corrigan, the

man who once so many locations in the past has provided, trying to

take on his man. He was pushed and the referee says play on. And that

is a cheap foul. The man with the original infringement, having a

look. Lee Cullen, just off my camera, there is some indiscipline

amongst the Monaghan fence. We saw that at the end of the first-half.

And that brought a free into a scoring son, converted by Monaghan

and something similar has happened again, I'll be initial free... That

is Pete McGrath. The Fermanagh manager. He looks very relaxed. He

will be happy, the longer it goes on like this, more belief Fermanagh

get, they were 6-1 underdogs and have not played like this. They

perhaps feel they can sneak a goal and they have definitely done well.

The rain is coming down in Clones. Corrigan with an opportunity to

narrow the gap. His right boot. And we have a score. Entrepreneurs, the

deficit has been cut. Going back to what Fermanagh are good at, defence

first. In the league they considered most goals along with Offaly. With

Ryan McCluskey with defence, they are putting the four birds under

pressure. Beggan could not find anyone with that short kick but he

eventually found his man. Monaghan have the ball in hand. McAnespie is

back, introduced in the first half because of the black card for Kieran

Hughes, Monaghan without both Hughes brothers. Well intercepted. Here

comes McCarthy. Going through and that was a good save from Treacy! He

made a mistake in the first-half and that was a brilliant save, using his

feet well, what an opportunity for Monaghan. He has shown that after

all that good work, the defence turned over Monaghan and they give

the ball away with that cheap mistake and that was namely -- newly

game over. The first subject to proper, for Monaghan, that man is

born Duffy. And he replaces Shane Kelly. He is accustomed to starting.

He could have started this. He will be keen to make an impact. 45,

Monaghan. Conor McManus standing over the ball. His fists clenched.

Tries to curl but in. That has gone wide. He has not had the best of

games. I suppose the longer the game goes on the more frustrated he gets

and with free kicks, 50 yards out, they become difficult. On a day when

perhaps McManus kicks seven points, he would expect that to float under

the bar. The kick out has scored Fermanagh enormous problems and this

will be a disaster if that goes in, the referee says play on, Conor

McManus, still loose, backheel and that will be gobbled up by the

cornerback, Michael Jones, 45... Was this man the guy who committed that

foul? He kicks out, I would be amazed at the referee allowed this

to be played for advantage. He felt that he dived but I felt he was

trapped. Thomas Treacy is very lucky that was not a black card. This is a

big call and the kick bites from Fermanagh causing all sorts of

problems for themselves. The referee will not go back to address that and

Fermanagh got away with that. They talked about this at half-time, why

not just kick the ball long? The 45 was kicked very pretty, but was

blocked, very rarely you see this in modern day Gaelic football and

Fermanagh winning the spec, the standard has been poor. The game is

full of mistakes. Tomas Corrigan, brilliantly out in front of his man,

Sean Quigley could do with scoring, particularly from play, only two of

them this year and he has just got his third. That is a big score and

they need him in this game if they are going to get anything. Tempo

rising. Before hand you have to say this is more like a league game and

a Championship football of a sudden, the teams have raised their game,

there might be mistakes but there is more passion involved with every

challenge and plot, the Chancellor score, born Duffy just on the field

and that is a count of score that perhaps will get him start the next

day. Whether that is the quarter final of the Championship or the

qualifier, we will wait. He will be happy. You can see that the game has

raised its tempo and the Ulster Championship Estrada. Here is Conor

McManus. Right foot. You just knew he was not going to miss. The

deficit increased to two points. That shows through his ability,

quiet for 45 minutes but he can spring to life at any second. This

is the difficulty for Fermanagh, scoring just 11 goal throughout the

league. The 32nd team out of 32 in terms of goals scored and in terms

of goals conceded, 31 out of 32, are fully conceding six against Armagh,

the only other team with the worst record. Monaghan on the charge

again. Fermanagh scrambling. Trying their best not to commit a foul, the

referee says no... Barry mind run, the referee says he was fouled. You

can see Conor McManus and Michael Jones getting involved. Fermanagh

got away with another one. Monaghan had men of, Brian McManus slipping

the ball across. Paul McCusker on the attack, into enemy territory,

crossing the 45 and tries to play it to the corner forward, Corrigan, he

could do with some help. The shot from distance, Ryan Lyons, he is a

long way out and he curled that too much, it goes wide. Three points

between the sides. Very ambitious, Beggan again here. The rain

continues to come down here in Clones, Monaghan, three points

between the sides, in the last five minutes they have gone up a gear,

that foul will be a free into the 45 metre line with Jack McCarron

currently standing over the ball. And that is the man in charge.

Fermanagh native, from Derrylin, he played for Fermanagh, today is very

much in charge of Monaghan. He tries to give it to born Duffy, he has

already scored points since being introduced. Jack McCarron, shooting

under pressure. This second point today. And most people will say he

should not have shot under pressure, there were others who could have

passed too, that increases the pressure to make sure it was right.

You would have expected him to shift that what he has taken

responsibility and a fantastic school. You can only keep forwards

that quality quiet for so long. In three minutes, Monaghan scoring

three points. You can sense the smell blood. There are no lights in

Clones. But it has got awfully dark. The ball thrown in. Very loose. The

referee blowing his whistle again. The conditions are very difficult

for the players. It is raining very heavily, lots of slipping and

sliding and we have seen a lot of mistakes so far already. Fermanagh

did well to win that, here comes Sean Quigley from distance. Hi,

floating... To the right and wide. Four points between the sides.

Fermanagh made something. Monaghan will be happy with that, forcing

quickly to shoot from 50 yards, you talk about their inability to score

goals throughout the league, you feel that Fermanagh will need a

goal. Barry mind run is receiving treatment from the medical staff

from Fermanagh, he seems to be touching his neck. We will wait to

save he gets back on his feet. Monaghan are preparing another such

a dude. And that man coming on very shortly will be Dermot Malone. And

Fermanagh make another change, Ryan Jones, but expected to play today.

He has had a back problem. Not fit enough to start but he comes on as a

substitute and that is Dermot Malone.

There were rumours Jones won't play any part but he is on, interesting

to see do they put him in the middle of the field are inside and full

forward line. He is a brilliant player with brilliant feet. Well

able to hit scores whenever they're outside the area. That's perhaps

what Fermanagh need when Monaghan pull everybody back. Donnelly again

gets his hands to it. Ryan McCluskey.

Finds Conor Murphy. Back again to Owen Donnelly.

Possession is given away. Referee says play on.

Dermot Malone with his first touch. Duffy still going. Tries to take on

Sean Quigley. Duffy with a chance. The angle is acute. The score is

good. Right-footed and you have to say, the substitutes that Monaghan

have made have certainly been the difference. Yeah, brilliant

substitution. Talked about the fact duffly will be disappointed he

didn't start,. Five points between the sides. Monaghan win the breaking

ball yet again. Gavin Doogan pass it is back. Should

find its way to Colin Walshe. Here is Connor McManus.

A long way out. Right-footed. Sheer class.

He may be quiet at certain occasions during the game, but he is a player

you take your eye off for one minute and he makes that look so easy. Made

it look easy. 45 yards from goals, conditions are slippy, heavy rain

falling. He made it look so easy. That's something we are used to

seeing him do over the years. We say he is quiet today, he has actually

scored a goal and three points. Now that Monaghan are six points up

you feel Fermanagh are going to have to come out, drop the blanket and

with that risk the likes of McManus and McCarron getting the ball

inside. There is the kick, straight up in the air. Not the intended

place it was meant to go. Fermanagh players diving in trying

to get a hand to it. Malone has won it. Last year in a stronger division

two, Fermanagh, scored more and conceded less. 2016 conceded 6-75:

On that basis they would seem to have gone backwards and are six

points behind Monaghan with less than 20 minutes to go. Duffy going

for a third point since being introduced. And Owen Duffy is making

a big statement here today. He increases the lead again. Seven

points. A rich round of applause from the Farney faithful. He is

pushing for an inclusion and possibly Ulster quarter-final.

Brilliant substitution. Three lovely scores all from different angles.

I suppose the game has panned out as we expected. Fermanagh obviously

came in, a good fight the first half, as the game has wore on

Monaghan have got into it and you feel they'll see it through easily.

Eddie Courtney about to be introduced.

A good dummy. Here is Sean Quigley. Blocked from behind. The referee

says no foul. Fantastic block. I think it was Ryan McAnespie getting

back. He has the ball at the moment. A big opportunity for Fermanagh.

Didn't get the ball to Quigley quickly enough. When he did have it,

within a second he was blocked down. That's going to be a sideline ball

for Monaghan. Let's look at it again.

Fantastic block. We talked about Ryan McAnespie and his fitness

levels have been through the roof, has been non-stop. Here is Eddie

Courtney coming on and Sean Quigley has been taken off. That's a strange

decision. You did look at the fact earlier that Sean Quigley was

holding his shoulder and in the game you need scorers and he is

Fermanagh's main score getter, that's a bit of a shock decision,

unless it's an injury. Fermanagh's top scorer in 2017, as he was in

2016, has been taken off. Monaghan's top scorer here, taking a

sideline ball. That was a poor kick. Tomas

Corrigan, looking for help, surrounded by blue and white

jerseys. Ryan Lyons. Unable to find a green shirt.

Monaghan come away with it. Seven points between the sides.

15 minutes to go. If Fermanagh are to get back into

this game you feel they need a goal. Not easy to do when you don't have

possession. Monaghan are really beginning to tighten the screw.

McCarron gets time and space. Does well. Flicks it up again. Just as he

did in the first half. That's gone very loose. Fermanagh do well to win

it at the back. Trying a counterattack from the 21-metre

line. Aidan Breen. Finds Paul McCusker. Ryan Jones has

it. He is fouled. It's hit short to Ryan McCluskey. Looking for support,

left and right. He has to go backwards. Lyons again.

What can Corrigan do? Goes for the shot from distance. Dropped short.

Beggan has it. Here is McManus. In the position of a corner back. Tries

to play it and finds his man O'Connell.

Here is another man hoping to start the next day, Dermot Malone.

Dafen Doogan. Malone again. Goes one way and

another. Goes for the shot. Fantastic score. It brings the point

back yet again that the substitutes from Monaghan's perspective, even

the one where Ciaran Hughes was black-carded, they've worked a

treat. That's something Monaghan and mal andingy O'Rourke has developed

since they came. They are strong and it's beginning to show today. The

ball has gone loose. Very scrappy. In soccer-style it's helped away.

Fermanagh eventually get it out. Aidan Breen. Finds Donnelly, finds

McCusker. The man that led the way to the Fermanagh goal in the first

half. They could really do with another in the second. Donnelly

looked as if he lost it. Put his body on the line. It's a free to

Monaghan. Yeah. Good play there by Gavin Doogan getting back. Someone I

watched closely during the league, does a lot of unseen work and a very

good game today. Another substitution.

It's Ciaran Duffy and the man going off, the centre halfback Vinnie

Corey. Yeah, good for him to get 60 minutes

under the belt and get ready and well rested for an Ulster

quarter-final. It looks as if Monaghan are going out handsomely

here. Ryan Lyons has been taken off,

coming on to the field was - Paul McCusker is the man taken off.

Malachy O'Rourke will be worried, certainly during the first half, a

little bit more sense of calm in him right now because it's a substantial

lead. He will be happy with how the second half has panned out. There

was a period of about ten minutes after the start of the second where

they got the scores they needed. I think they're going to win

handsomely enough even though they haven't played particularly well.

Ryan McAnespie with ball in hand. Finds McCarron.

Fermanagh really struggling. As they struggle, Monaghan are in

the groove. Fin tan Kelly increases the lead again. Off his weaker left

foot and Martin talked about that at half-time. Cornerbacks getting up to

support and chipping in with points and that's something we are seeing

often in the modern game. Kickout to the middle of the field. Eventually,

and typically, has it has been over the last ten minutes, into the hands

of a Monaghan player. A shot from distance. And you sense Fermanagh

have given up. Yeah. Given up the ghost at this stage. Ten points in

it. It's a matter of how many at this stage, you feel. Ten points

between the sides. Ten minutes to go. Pete McGrath has been there,

seen it, done it, All-Irelands, everything. Even you feel from his

perspective, inside he probably knows the game is up and it will be

the qualifiers for Fermanagh. It's probably not fair from that point of

view, they put on a massive performance the first half. Probably

at half-time were the better side and probably didn't deserve to be

two points down. The second half definitely Monaghan have upped the

ante. I suppose the class has shown. Monaghan on the attack again.

Tomas Corrigan wins the breaking ball.

Dermot Malone. He finds Gavin Doogan.

Doogan three kids aged between five and eight, the 29-year-old balancing

that family life with inter-County football. Needs a medal! Long ball

inside. Trying to find Colin Walshe. He

fouls his man and a free out for Fermanagh. Taken quickly.

Cavan are the team who will be watching this very closely. They

will play the winners. That game will be live on BBC television and

BBC Radio Ulster. Nine points in a row for Monaghan.

Monaghan on the attack again. All of a sudden acres of space. Nobody near

him. The crowd urging him to go on. A

late challenge. It's all opened up. Gavin Doogan decides to go for the

point. Gets a score. That could have been a goal. I suppose Gavin doesn't

want to rub too much salt in the wounds. McCarthy was inside. Takes

the point. A big cheer here for Dessie Mone. In he comes, The

Championship season starts for him. Fintan Kelly place at Clones at club

level. Again no words needed. Kelly has had a good day. An experienced

fullback line. They started all seven league games together, I

think, so they know each other's games inside out. You feel that

Fermanagh know that the game is up. As for Monaghan, they're playing for

places in the next round. With every potential 50-50 ball

they're going in full. The referee has stopped the game for a head

collision. 11 points between the sides. Let's

look at this again. It's a clash of heads.

I think it is. That looked painful. Yeah, accidental, don't think there

was any intent from Dermot Malone. Hopefully Barry Mulrone is OK to

continue. That's the second time during the game Barry Mulrone has

taken a knock to the head. The physio tapping him on the shoulder.

Will he be able to continue? He is up on his feet and looks as if

he will. Duffy finding Duffy. Monaghan

finding their team-mates with ease, Walsh, Jack McCarron. Looking for

help, passing it backwards. Mulrone screaming for it. He will eventually

be given it. Malone decides to go backwards. McAnespie. The ball

inside to the full forward line, that was well won by the substitute,

Duffy. It has been lost. Fermanagh have it and they will be given the

free out, we suspect they will. The referee blows the whistle. It has

been 20 minutes since Fermanagh last registered at school. That tells its

own story. -- registered score. They needed to get a couple of

preschoolers in the second half that has not happened with them, and

Monaghan have raised the tempo. We said that they would be disappointed

but their performance but they still scored against that blanket defence

and O'Rourke will be happy with that and on training on Tuesday night, he

knows he will be having plenty to work on and no doubt, these Monaghan

boys can improve on this. The shot goes wide. Malachy O'Rourke, all but

into the quarterfinal, another derby against Cavan. Conor McManus

registered 45% of the scores for Monaghan last year. And from that

perspective, Monaghan have started to spread the scores, which is good

news. It has not all been Jack McCarron, other players have stepped

up. That is a wonderful point from the right but, distance and the

angle not the easiest, the first point Fermanagh have scored in

almost 22 minutes. Wachowski does well. He knew that ball was evading

him. -- Ryan McCluskey. He was able to keep that in play. He has been

the best player for Fermanagh. He is a quarterback, they look to him

every time to set up their attacks, he has been very good. Dessie Mone.

One of those typical long runs. Doogan has it again, McManus,

finding McCarron. Monaghan going through the phases. Eventually,

gobbled up, Fermanagh, but with that, Eoin Donnelly, Lyons, finding

help, he could do with some help. Tangled in the hands of Neil McAdam,

free to Fermanagh. The referee blowing the whistle because it will

be a substitution. The big thing for Monaghan is whether Darren Hughes

will be fit for the game with Cavan, he was doing a lot of rehab so it'll

be interesting if he can that. There was chat that he would not be fit

until the semifinal or the final but he is a massive player. Conor

McCarthy taken off, Michael Bannon introduced. Fermanagh hoping for

another score, right footed, over the bar, from Aiden Breen. His

Championship debut in 2012. And one of the stronger performers from

Fermanagh today, you feel that it will be into the qualifiers through

the back door route. Monaghan are barging their way through the front,

comfortable in possession, Drew Wylie. Finding Michael Branagan.

Blocked down Ndidi, by Aiden Breen. The second bite of the cherry. --

blocked down by Aiden Breen. Dessie Mone. That was the loudest cheer of

the day, if you don't succeed at first, try again, that was nice. The

last time Monaghan played Fermanagh in the Championship, it was Monaghan

1-20, Fermanagh 13 points, exactly like it is today. The time before

that it was Monaghan 21, Fermanagh 2-8. That suggests when Monaghan

played Fermanagh in Championship football, there is a fair margin

between the sides. That is a big score and the fact that Monaghan

were not firing on all cylinders, who still scored 23 points is some

going. And with that blanket defence well marshalled by McCluskey. Walsh

tries to find Malone, tackling late and that will be a free for

Fermanagh. Duffy. He will be looking for a starting place when Monaghan

play Cavan. In the quarterfinals of the Ulster Championship. The robber,

the Championship continues tomorrow with tantrum against Donegal in

Ballybofey, that game infill tomorrow evening. -- in full. At

7pm. Fermanagh on the attack. Taken well, still has possession, he does

well but in the meantime the referee blows his whistle, free in. Entering

injury time. One thing the viewers will not

appreciate is how dark it has become here, but 7pm kick of was pretty

late. Seven o'clock kick-off! Free in from the 21 metre line. Corrigan

letting this one. Again, the familiar stance before he strikes.

Does it curl in? The umpire bases for the flag, he does not, it has

gone wide. For Monaghan, 1-20 is great scoring, 13 different scorers

today. That is a pleasing spread. Whenever Jack McCarron and Conor

McManus were not in the game, others stepped up. Ian McKellan does not

usually score, Duffy kicking three of them, McCarthy, that is a

pleasing thing for them. You cannot rely too heavily on nonhuman. Jones

trying to play that inside and that is an important hand in from Neil

McAdam because that was destined to reach Sean Donnelly and that is 45.

1-20, 1-10. Double digits between the sides. And that is Malachy

O'Rourke. He will be happy but no doubt the post match will say he has

plenty to improve upon. But the Ulster Championship it is all about

getting over the line and with their last Championship they were defeated

by Longford, he took some time to ponder his future but he is back and

Monaghan will be a force to reckon with in Ulster, no doubt. That was a

great score from Aiden Breen. He has been a strong performer today. From

the perspective of Fermanagh. Nine points is the deficit. Let us look

at this again. Superb kick. Against this blanket defence really

defenders and midfielders and forwards who can kick from range and

that is his second point, one of the best performers. The middle of the

field, Karl O'Connell, he has cramped up. He is born of a

halfback, they tried him at midfield last year and it worked a treat and

he has been playing there although drifting back now and again but he

has been a great find for Monaghan. And not the tallest player but given

the nature of the game, it is about mobility and he fits the ball. Great

engine. The referee has blown the whistle, handshakes and Conor

McManus was not at his absolute best today but he still finished up the

top scorer Fermanagh him and it really was emphatic that the end,

handshakes, on the one team going through and that is Monaghan. They

were not at their best but they will be happy to get through to the

quarterfinal, it was all about winning, plenty to work on but the

gameplay that the we expected. The longer it went on, the longer it

began to tell and Monaghan deserved winners. The quality digital ad in

end it was Monaghan you are through to the quarterfinals, they will play

Cavan. The full time, Monaghan 1-20, Fermanagh 1-11. The damage was the

second half, what is your assessment? It took us a long time

to get going, we would not be happy with the first off, they were

careless and were not getting to the game, you are better in the second

half, Fermanagh fell away. Delighted to get through it. And we will try

to learn what we can from today. They do consciously change much at

half-time? Though, there was poor attitude, we felt we needed to push

more, you are giving Fermanagh a lot of room and we were not pushing,

they wanted to press more and go man-to-man and put them under

pressure and we turned the ball over and got some scores. But Fermanagh

played very well in the first-half and we were then down. Were you

fortunate to go in ahead at half-time? Possibly, when they got

the goal we were in control a little but Fermanagh came back well and got

the goal. Two points, it could have been level. It did not matter, we

had to come out and be much better in the second half and luckily we

were. Frustrating to lose Kieran Hughes, did you see that incident? I

did not see it. But this is what happens. There is no point in me

saying anything because they did not see what he did. The second half,

dominant display, what pleased you? I thought we had more urgency over

the field, pressing on Fermanagh better, more clinical in Big Apple

Ball, we raised our game. It was enough to get through today,

Fermanagh badly hit by injuries. We need to improve if we have to go to

Cavan. Where you pleased with Duffy, a particular? He made a big

difference. He came in very fresh and energetic and he scored great

points, that is what you want, massive impact. Thank you. Thank

you. Well done to Monaghan. I doff my cap to both of you. You said that

Fermanagh would be competitive for 35 minutes and Monaghan would run

away with it, it came to pass! On the Monaghan bench, the quality of

the squad, not only this year and the last number of years, new faces,

coming into the game today, the thing about Monaghan is their

aspirations far exceed Fermanagh. They are looking for Ulster titles

and looking to break that quarterfinal jinx and get to

football Ireland semifinal and that is progress for a Malachy O'Rourke,

master was disappointing. Towards the end of the second half they

seemed to be a team that has gone to another level, established Division

One team and it is difficult but Fermanagh, going into Division

Three, to compete with the likes of Monaghan, Donegal and Tyrone. Man of

the Match? Duffy. You need a player who can take the game by the scruff

of the neck. He came off the bench. I will say this about him, he might

be better coming effective edge, he has normally been taken off, some

substitutes make a difference and he does. When the game settles down,

this was important for Fermanagh, in the game, they needed somebody to

kick these big points. The big-name players like Conor McManus,

brilliant scores from play and it is important, Oisin McConville said

this, Monaghan how the bench, 13 different scorers. And losing Kieran

Hughes and Darren Hughes not on the field. Conor McManus was carrying

them. It was very lateral and a wonderfully coming on, very direct.

Taking those opportunities. -- Owen Duffy coming on. Congratulations,

Owen Duffy. Man of the Match. Martin said you took the game by the scruff

of the neck. Is that what the manager told you to do? You always

want to make an impression, when you get on the ball, do simple things

and things open up, in the last 20 minutes, we knew that was going to

happen and it was keeping things simple and making the right

decisions. You try to analyse the game when you are not involved and

see how you can make an impact? I want to get in there as soon as

possible! Like most substitutes! You see who you are going on form, the

games change but we knew it was going to be tight for around 40

minutes but the game opens up and you get more room, the rain came

down, we turned them over and got more space so that contributed.

Martin also said he thinks you are potentially a better impact

substitute. How much would you rather prefer to have a jersey

number from one to 15? That's what you play the game for, you always

want to start a game, but you have to put the disappointment behind

you. It's a panel game now, tell Martin not to be talking too much

about it! I'd rather start. It's been spoken about by Dublin and Joe

Schmidt, it's not about the team that starts the game, you want your

strongest players finishing the game. Now there is that extra

quality this season. The quality on the bench didn't even get in, you

know, it's unbelievable. It's as good a Monaghan squad as I have been

involved in since I started with Monaghan. So, it all bodes well for

The Championship going ahead. We are looking forward to getting at Cavan.

What will Cavan be thinking watching that? A couple of different things I

suppose, they'll want to keep it tight at the back. The weather could

be a different game. A local derby, never anything in it. I suppose

they're going to work, they've a game to analyse, we are going in

with a blank canvas and hope to get a performance. Connor McManus is

always here. It's not often a substitute wins Man of the Match,

what does it show? I am sure he was disappointed not to start, it shows

the calibre of the man that he took it on the dhin chin and made a

mastiff difference. What does -- and made a massive difference. Things

didn't go for new the first half, you seemed to kick into another gear

in the third quarter. Yeah, we were probably laboured in the first half,

didn't get a full flow going. We talked about it at half-time and

wanted more urgency into the game and the introduction of players made

it. Job done and we move on. What did the manager say at half-time,

there was a better transition, there was just a better Monaghan that

emerged from the dressing room? We knew the first half we hadn't played

to our potential and we knew Fermanagh were going to come out in

the second half and up it, we had to match that over the field. I think

we did. Do you think you have something to prove this year,

because you are very good in division one and obviously had the

emergence of the likes of Jack McCarron, this team feels it can

beginning on and made an impact in the all Ireland series? That's

everyone's dream at the end of the day, the big one. Ulster

championship, that's what we are concentrating on. We are going to

have a big day against caven, we have that to look forward to. What

will you learn from this game? The last 15 minutes there, I suppose our

passing wasn't up to scratch. I suppose the first day out in the

Ulster championship, but we will learn from the day, breaking

transition and one thing and another going forward. Thank you for joining

us. Back to the studio. Thank you. You are also saying money

have underachieved but under Malachy they have won two Ulsters. The

players they have, you can see the strength on the bench and everything

else, I feel we talk about the three big Ulster teams, I feel they've

underachieved, Monaghan. It's a big year for them. They've experienced

players and young lads coming in and everything. The Cavan game is going

to be the most difficult hurdle for them. I know managing Cavan, the

great rivalry is there. They have no fear for Monaghan. I was managing

Cavan and we played a McKen in a Cup game. I put opt the second team, the

Cavan second team and they were 5,000 people turned up for the

match. This was a McKenna Cup. And we got hammered in the game and

everything else but the chairman got a lot of calls from the clubs around

that area saying what's that man playing at? The chairman said he is

not worried, he is wordy about the Ulster championship, they said live

down here and they'll know all about it. There is massive rivalry in that

area. It's one of the biggest, you are Armagh and Down, Donegal and

Tyrone. This is a massive rivalry. It's a different game. My opinion

from their point of view, it's a big test for them. Cavan are training

they hard. They trained hard last week and some picked up injuries.

You have spies right across the Province! Cavan game is different.

Last year's championship game, they were four points up. Was it last

year? A big game for them. A different test. Where to for

Fermanagh and before you answer that, David has been in touch via

social media, yes, Monaghan were impressive, but no County can

sustain the losses Fermanagh have. There are some that can, but it's

the top Counties. Fermanagh have lost a lot of players. They were

competitive. They have players all over the field in certain positions,

in particular, in the middle of the field. The fullback line today was

under immense pressure and actually did OK. Defensively they were good.

It's just that they need to, the transition isn't as good as the

likes of Monaghan and Dubs and Kerry and Donegal and these teams are.

Where to from here? It's difficult. It is really difficult. You have to

get them together again. Of all the teams that are left in the

championship they've the longest wait in all - to play again. By that

stage the pain goes away of this defeat. Some boys tip off to

America. They don't see any glory or don't see any future in staying

with... I will stop you and pause there. We have Pete McGrath standing

by. Peter, the second half made all the

difference from a Monaghan perspective. How difficult was it to

stop them when they got into that flow? Yeah, well, I think the first

half we put in a fantastic effort. The first half for us went exactly

as we hoped it would go. Apart from the two late Monaghan points. I

think maybe in that first half our team did expend an enormous amount

of energy. We did realise that at the start of the second half we

needed to get a couple of quick scores to get the game up and

running again. That didn't happen. Monaghan brought an intensity to the

second half and a pace and a physicality to the second half,

which is the second half wore on we were not able to match. Then they

got the flow into their game. They got the momentum. They got the

cohesion. They got the scores. Once they opened a four, five-point gap

it was going to be very difficult for us to bridge that gap and

Monaghan certainly deserved their victory by the way they played in

the second half. Looking to the qualifiers, how many positives will

you take from that first 35 minutes and the display and in many ways you

didn't deserve to be behind going in at the interval? Yes, looking ahead,

we will take a lot of encouragement and confidence from the first half

performance because we were playing one of the best six teams in the

country here, playing in their back garden, and in that first half we

more than matched them. We were, I think, unfortunate to go in two down

at half-time. But nevertheless, there are positives there. There

will be disappointment now. Better -- bitter disuponment but we have to

pick ourselves up and extend the summer for as long as we can, and I

knows that's what the players will do. Looking at Monaghan how much of

a force do you feel they can prove to be for the rest of the summer?

They're always going to be a force. People will look at their

performance today, analyse it and they'll be impressed by what they

saw in the second half. They might not be impressed by the first half,

because we had them by the pin of their collar in the first half. But

we have a good team. So, yeah, I think Monaghan will be obviously a

major threat in Ulster. I think they should be thinking in terms of an

All-Ireland because they've got the personnel, they've the experience