DONEGAL ...............................0-17
FERMANAGH ............................1-8
A much depleted Fermanagh minor team managed a very spirited effort in this rescheduled Ulster minor league game played in fine conditions at MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey on Wednesday night.
The Erne boys were to be beaten by a six point margin but given the skeleton squad that was available for selection, this was an encouraging effort.
Donegal were clearly the sharper and more cohesive side for most of the contest and they were to quickly motor their way into a comfortable lead which was never to be unduly threatened.
But Fermanagh were to collect points at sporadic intervals, scores which ensured that they were not to suffer an overwhelming reversal.
And in the final ten minutes of the game, it was Fermanagh who succeeded in finishing that little bit stronger and they were to bag a couple of scores, one of these the game's only goal, to put respectability on the scoreline.
Defensively for Fermanagh there was steady work put in by wing half Brendan Sherlock with centre back John Duffy also working hard though the latter had a tough task on his hands in attempting to curb one of the brightest Donegal forwards, Antoin MacFadden.
In the middle of the park the home side generally held the upperhand but it was by no means a case of being one way traffic and the Fermanagh duo of Greg Connolly and Niall McCusker were always popping up to contribute to the team's cause.
In the attack there was also to be some forceful play put in by half forward Jonathan Feely with Ryan O'Keefe and Kane Connor in the corner forward positions also doing some enterprising work.
So in the end there were enough solid individual performances to give the management belief that with the availability of some of the St Michael's MacRory panel, a sturdy team can be fashioned out over the coming games.
OFF THE LINE
Donegal were swiftly out of the starting blocks and with a lot of possession claimed around the middle of the park they looked like they would simply swamp the opposition. Within ten minutes they had stormed through for five points, the bulk of these coming from open play as they carved out the openings. Owen Ward, Antoin MacFadden and Ray McLoughlin were among those on target for them.
But Fermanagh had answered with a Kane Connors point from play and Ryan O'Keefe added a second as the first quarter ended.
The pattern for the remainder of the half had been established. Donegal were the authoritative side and they had much the greater share of possession. But Fermanagh were able to pick up points in the lead up to the break, Brian Mullin and Ronan Ormsby the marksmen.
That left an interval scoreline of ten to four and in the circumstances prevailing this was not an acceptable enough situation.
On the restart it was again the home side who made most of the running and they fired over a number of points from Seamus Corcoran and Owen Ward but Fermanagh still managed the isolated reply, Jonathan Feely, Declan McCusker and John Duffy pointing for them to keep the game alive.
Into the final quarter and Donegal led by fifteen to seven but from there to the finish there was to be stronger showing put in by Fermanagh but their effort was spoiled somewhat by several cases of wayward distribution.
Still they were to grab a goal, a long ball clearing the Donegal full back line and full forward Brian Mullin did well under pressure to slot home a ground shot. Niall McCusker lobbed over a point and suddenly the game had taken on a different slant.
No suggestion however that a competent Donegal team were going to dramatically collapse and they were to underline their command with the game's final score, this an excellent shot from the right wing tossed over by wing half forward Dermot Molloy who had a prolific game overall.
