Ulster rivals must replay

Fermanagh boss John Maughan looks rueful at the end

Bank of Ireland Ulster SFC:
Donegal 1-16 2-13 Fermanagh.

Donegal and Fermanagh will have to do it all again at Brewster Park on 20 May after playing out an exciting 1-16 to 2-13 draw in Sunday's Ulster Championship opener at Ballybofey.

Mickey Moran's team were the happier at the finish having scored two points in the closing four minutes of the contest to force the replay.

Donegal's goalscorer Adrian Sweeney showed great composure deep into injury-time to slot over a 35 metre free to ensure the rematch.

The game didn't lack for scores but the quality at times was suspect.

Marking, for long periods, seemed almost non-existant and while some wonderful scores were executed, there was hardly much in the match to overly worry the likes of Armagh, Derry and Tyrone.

Donegal didn't capitalise on a great start which saw Adrian Sweeney palming to the net in the fourth minute after Brendan Devenney had produced some great work.

Jim McGuinness (centre) had an off-day

Both Sweeney and Devenney went on to have excellent matches scoring 1-4 and 0-6 respectively.

The early goal kept Donegal narrowly in front for the majority of the first half even though Fermanagh were gradually getting on top at midfield.

Parity didn't come until the 28th minute when Rory Gallagher hit his fourth point of the first half.

By that stage, Fermanagh manager John Maughan had showed that reputations counted for little as captain Tom Brewster had been withdrawn to the bench in favour of Mark O'Donnell.

Despite Brewster's struggles, full-forward Stephen Maguire once again, was proving the perfect targetman.

Maguire adeptly set up Fermanagh's first goal a minute before half-time by flicking possession to the totally unmarked O'Donnell.

The substitute almost had too much time but he showed admirable composure to fire under the body of Donegal goalkeeper Tony Blake.

Stephen Maguire (right) was outstanding

Suddenly Fermanagh were three points ahead and Donegal fans were relieved that ineffective midfielder Paul McGonigle at least chipped in with a score in first half injury-time to cut back the Erneside advantage.

Donegal manager Mickey Moran decided major surgery was needed at half-time with Noel Hegarty and Brian Roper introduced for Shane Carr and Andrew Gallagher.

Maguire's opening point of the second half restored the goal advantage but Donegal managed to stay in touch in the third quarter.

By that stage, Moran had moved Jim McGuinness to bolster Donegal's struggling midfield.

However, the switch had little impact on the match with McGuinness' overall display, very disappointing.

Points from Sweeney and substitute Roper brought the sides level at 1-11 to 1-11 by the 52nd minute.

Donegal then seemed to be at last regaining control of the contest when Devenney edged them a point clear with a controversial 55th minute free.

Swapped points from Kieran Donnelly and Devenney maintained the one point Donegal lead before Fermanagh struck their second goal in the 59th minute.

John Gildea and Paul Brewster in aerial battle

Maguire beat Donegal goalkeeper Tony Blake in an aerial duel and the full-forward's palmed effort was adjudged to have crossed the line despite Roper's acrobatic clearance.

The umpire was in no doubt and in truth, there were few complaints from the Donegal players.

The goal left Fermanagh two points ahead and looking likely to repeat their Ballybofey success of last year.

But Donegal to the credit fought back with Sweeney leaving the minimum between the sides with five minutes of normal time left.

McGuinness should have levelled a minute later but the out of sorts Glenties man missed from 30 yards.

It seemed certain to be Fermanagh's day when referee Seamus Prior awarded the Ernesiders a free from in front of the Donegal posts with the ball more than 50 yards away.

Eamon Doherty was the Donegal player penalised and Rory Gallagher tapped over the simple free to put Fermanagh two clear.

But Donegal kept fighting and Devenney's sixth point of the afternoon followed by Sweeney's admirable pressure free from 35 metres ensured Sunday's replay at Brewster Park.

Donegal: T Blake, S Carr, E Doherty, P Campbell, M Crossan (0-1), D Diver, R Sweeney, J Gildea, P McGonigle (0-1), J Gallagher (0-1), M Hegarty (0-2), A Gallagher, J McGuinness, A Sweeney (1-4), B Devenney (0-6). Subs: Brian Roper (0-1) and Noel Hegarty for Shane Carr and A Gallagher half-time, Tony Boyle for J Gallagher 45 mins.

Fermanagh: Ronan Gallagher, M Lilly, P McGuinness, R McCluskey, R Johnson, M McGrath, N Cox, P Brewster, O Mulligan, K Donnelly (0-1), Rory Gallagher (0-6), T Brewster, S McDermott, S Maguire (1-5), S King (0-1). Subs: M O'Donnell (1-0) for T Brewster 25, L McBarron for O Mulligan 44, B Owens for S McDermott 54.

Referee: S Prior (Leitrim).

Minor match result: Donegal 2-5 0-8 Fermanagh