GL lists: The Fermanagh eight

Round one Qualifier 2013

Fermanagh 3-10 Westmeath 1-15

This was Fermanagh’s first championship win since they overcame Cavan in Ulster in 2010 – even though they almost blew it by hitting 20 wides on the day. Sean Quigley was on top form as they opened up a 2-5 to 0-7 lead at the break, but Westmeath took control in the 10 minutes after half time and went ahead by the 45th minute, helped by a penalty from John Heslin. The game turned in Fermanagh’s favour, though, as Ryan Jones scored a classic goal from 20 yards out, and they held out to notch their first championship victory in eight attempts. They didn’t go on a winning run, however, losing their round two Qualifier to Cavan.

Ulster Championship
quarter-final 2015

Fermanagh 1-13 Antrim 0-8

Sweet revenge: Fermanagh had lost to Antrim in the previous year’s championship, but they made amends in a jittery contest at Enniskillen. Pete McGrath’s side never trailed throughout the whole match, but they were helped on their way when Antrim’s Sean McVeigh careered into Ciarán Flaherty. The Saffrons responded by bringing 14 men behind the ball in an effort to stifle their opponents, but Fermanagh were easily the better team and strolled over the finish line in what was an altogether tame affair. The insurance score was a Sean Quigley penalty, but they bowed out of Ulster on their next day out against Monaghan.

Round 2A Qualifier 2015

Fermanagh 1-21 Antrim 0-11

The start of a memorable Qualifier run for Pete McGrath’s men. As fate would have it, they were pitted against Antrim, whom they had already beaten in Ulster. Sean Quigley produced a finishing masterclass with a 14-point haul, and seven points in the first half alone propelled the Ernesiders into a 0-11 to 0-5 lead at the break. Devenish’s Martin O’Brien netted in the 55th minute, but the man of the match by a distance was Quigley, whose audacious score-taking was of the highest order. He received a deserved standing ovation when he was subbed near the end, and all of a sudden it looked like Fermanagh were going places.

Round 3A Qualifier 2015

Fermanagh 1-14 Roscommon 0-16

A brilliant victory for Fermanagh; the scoreline attests to a rip-roaring contest that went right down to the wire, but it doesn’t tell the full story of a memorable comeback victory. Fermanagh scored the final six points of the game to take the contest, sparking scenes of jubilation from their delighted players after the game. The hero of the hour, once again, was that man Sean Quigley, who made up for some early wides with some fantastic points in the second half. He also scored a late controversial penalty, while Tomas Corrigan was also on top form up front, hitting five points. It has to be said that Fermanagh really deserved their one-point victory as they really took the game to the Rossies in the second half.

Round 4A Qualifier 2015

Fermanagh 1-13 Westmeath 0-7

Fermanagh’s third victory on the trot as they booked their place in the All-Ireland quarter-finals for the first time since 2004. The teams were level at the break, but the Erne county produced another stirring second-half performance with Tomas Corrigan starring up front. The Kinawley forward scored three late points before half time, and he followed that up with 1-4 after the break. His goal was a real peach as he lobbed the advancing Gary Connaughton in the 64th minute, and from there the rest of the game was pretty much a procession. Their victory was all the more impressive as they lost Ryan McCluskey and Martin O’Brien to black cards in the first half. They came up against the Dubs in the quarter-final, and gave a decent account of themselves even though Dublin won fairly comfortably.

Ulster Championship
preliminary round 2016

Fermanagh 1-12 Antrim 0-9

Tomas Corrigan was in great form for Fermanagh in the middle part of the decade, and he was in sensational form in a 1-12 to 0-9 victory over Antrim back in 2016. It was their third championship victory over Antrim in two years, but they didn’t have it all their own way as the Saffrons staged a mini-revival in the second half, hitting five unanswered scores. Sean Quigley’s 69th minute goal was the clincher for Fermanagh, but the individual plaudits went to Corrigan, who scored nine points including two jaw-dropping sideline kicks. It was to be a short season though, as they lost to Donegal in their next match in Ulster before losing to Wexford in the first round of the Qualifiers.

Ulster Championship
quarter-final 2018

Fermanagh 0-12 Armagh 0-7

Rory Gallagher was appointed as new Fermanagh manager in late 2017, and it’s fair to say he made an immediate impact as he guided the team to the Ulster final. They got up and running with a highly impressive five-point victory over Armagh. Seamus Quigley top-scored with six points in a dogged encounter, and while Armagh were poor, credit has to go to Fermanagh for their hard work, endeavour and discipline in defence. Amazingly, the Orchard county scored their last point from play in the 17th minute, and defenders like Che Cullen and Barry Mulrone were just as worthy as mention as Quigley, who led the charge up front.

Ulster Championship
semi-final 2018

Fermanagh 1-8 Monaghan 0-10

Saving the best to last, quite possibly. Malachy O’Rourke’s Monaghan were red-hot favourites to qualify for the Ulster final, but they were undone in memorable fashion by Fermanagh. Every Fermanagh fan will remember Eoin Donnelly’s sensational game-winning goal as he punched the ball to the net, but this wasn’t really a smash and grab as Fermanagh played their socks off from start to finish. Fermanagh, who played a smart possession game, started really strongly and opened up a 0-5 to 0-1 lead in the first half. The Farney county, almost predictably, came back into the game and nudged into the lead late in affairs, but that set the context for a remarkable winning goal from their talismanic midfielder Donnelly. They underperformed in the final against Donegal, but it was a tremendous victory nonetheless.