2019

Monaghan 1-10 Fermanagh 1-6

THE last championship meeting between the sides was a feisty Qualifier affair in Clones as Monaghan earned a win on the undercard to the Cavan and Armagh Ulster semi-final replay. A Ryan Lyons goal gave Fermanagh an early foothold but they would actually finish with 12 men as Lee Cullen, James McMahon and Paul McCusker saw red. The latter two were in additional time following a melee after Conor McCarthy’s clinching goal. Rory Gallagher’s side also missed a penalty at a crucial stage in the second half as Rory Beggan brilliantly denied Sean Quigley. The Oriel county would bow out against Armagh in the next round and Malachy O’Rourke would step aside after the game. Gallagher would do likewise a few weeks later.

2018

Fermanagh 1-8 Monaghan 0-10

EOIN Donnelly’s goal has, predictably, received the Titanic music treatment on YouTube as he dramatically fisted home a goal to send Fermanagh into the Ulster final. Drew Wylie’s point as time approached 70 minutes put Monaghan two ahead and seemingly into a fourth Ulster final meeting with Donegal in just six years, but there would be one last twist. It was usual midfield partner Ryan Jones who lobbed a ball towards the square in Healy Park and despite Rory Beggan and two Monaghan defenders around him, the Coa man managed to punch to the net. Monaghan still had four minutes to find a leveller, but they were unable to do so as the full-time whistle was greeted by wild celebrations.

2017

Monaghan 1-20 Fermanagh 1-11

THE 2017 Ulster Championship opened with a wonderful second-half performance from Monaghan as they powered away from the Erne county in Clones. Conor McManus goaled in a first half that saw the sides on level terms on six separate occasions. Thomas Treacy’s kick-out was a poor one and he fed McManus who slotted past the retreating net-minder, but the Oriel county only led 1-8 to 1-6 at the break as Ryan Lyons had responded with a three-pointer for Fermanagh. The Erne men would score two of the three opening points in the second half to get within one, but incredibly Monaghan would kick 10 points without reply from there to advance.

2015

Monaghan 1-20 Fermanagh 0-13

MONAGHAN qualified for a third straight Ulster final following a comfortable day’s work against 14-man Fermanagh at Kingspan Breffni. The match had been close enough until Ryan McCluskey’s dismissal with 12 minutes remaining. Pete McGrath’s side had been on a charge at that stage and had halved a six-point deficit before the red card. With an extra man in their favour, Monaghan controlled the game from there on. Conor McManus hit the net which meant Stephen Gollogly’s missed penalty and a red card for Darren Hughes had no impact on the outcome.

2010

Monaghan 0-21 Fermanagh 2-8

DARREN Hughes continued in nets as Seamus McEnaney’s team dismantled Fermanagh to reach the Ulster final. Early doors it was Monaghan 0-3 Fermanagh 0-2, but from there until the break the Oriel county out-scored their opponents 0-11 to 0-1. Conor McManus was in outstanding form as Monaghan continued to breeze through the second half with late goals from a certain Rory Gallagher and Daryl Keenan putting some gloss on things for the Erne county in Cavan. Malachy O’Rourke stepped down as Fermanagh manager a few weeks later and his next intercounty job would be with the Oriel county.

2008

Fermanagh 2-8 Monaghan 0-10

FERMANAGH have never come closer to ending their wait for a first Ulster title than in 2008 when they really should have defeated Armagh in the decider before losing out in the replay. Their momentum started in an impressive quarter-final win over Monaghan in Enniskillen. It was their fourth championship win over Monaghan in five attempts and owed a lot to goals from Liam McBarron – the game’s opening score – and Ciaran McElroy. That second goal put the hosts five clear with 15 minutes remaining, and they played out the rest of the game in a disciplined manner. Monaghan’s cause wasn’t helped by a late red card picked up by substitute Gary McQuaid.

2002

Fermanagh 4-13 Monaghan 2-11

CLONES saw one of the best ever individual Ulster Championship displays as future Fermanagh manager Rory Gallagher posted an incredible 3-9 tally to blow Monaghan out of the water. His tally included two penalties and five frees, but even those strikes were of the very highest standard. The first goal of the game actually came from teammate Tom Brewster, but it was Monaghan who led at the break thanks to goals from Tommy Freeman and Rory Woods. That left them four ahead at the interval, 2-7 to 1-6, but the second half belonged to one man as Gallagher put on a display of a lifetime.

2001

Monaghan 2-10 Fermanagh 0-14

AROUND this stage Fermanagh were something of a bogey team for Monaghan, so this was a welcome win for the visitors at Brewster Park. John Maughan’s side were particularly poor in the first half with the concession of goals to Ciaran Tavey and Raymond Ronaghan leaving them with an eight-point mountain to climb in the second half. They tried their best with Tom Brewster and free-taker Rory Gallagher prominent in the scoring stakes, but Monaghan survived.

2000

Fermanagh 3-12 Monaghan 1-10

THIS was the last time Fermanagh and Monaghan met in a knockout Ulster Championship tie and a quick start set the tone for an Erne win. They had 1-4 on the board at a newly-refurbished Brewster Park before Monaghan got off the mark, Stephen Maguire with their goal. Ciaran Tavey goaled for Monaghan towards the end of the half, but Fermanagh still led 1-7 to 1-3 as the teams switched ends. The Oriel county closed the gap to a point soon after the restart, but Raymond Johnston grabbed Fermanagh’s second goal after his initial effort rebounded off the upright. Raymond Gallagher added a third goal in the 58th minute to seal the matter.

1999

Fermanagh 2-12 Monaghan 1-10

FERMANAGH’S 1999 championship season started with the concession of a Monaghan goal – to Declan Smyth from the penalty spot – in the first minute, but they showed great heart to escape Clones with a five-point win. Much of that owed to the showing of Shane King who ended the day with 2-2 to his name, the forward nabbing a goal in each half. The Man of the Match, however, was Tom Brewster who produced a brilliant display to earn the bragging rights for the Erne county.

27 June 2010; Darren Hughes, Monaghan. Ulster GAA Football Senior Championship Semi-Final, Fermanagh v Monaghan, Kingspan Breffni Park, Cavan. Picture credit: Oliver McVeigh SPORTSFILE