By Patrick Sharkey,
Sean Cassidy got the first shot of the game for Fermanagh but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough for the erne men to take an early lead. Sean Cassidy then managed to get ahead with Fermanagh taking the lead seven minutes in. Sean Cassidy then added another point to minutes later. Donegal then got a wide as the frustrations grew for the green and gold. It took 13 minutes for Donegal to get into the game with Dáire Ó Baoil and Oisin Gallen hitting the ball over the bar.
Declan McCusker then came to Fermanagh’s rescue, hitting it over for the break. Ryan McHugh then was unfortunate to miss a chance to score with his club man Patck McBrearty following suit. Sean Cassidy hit the point over the free kick to put Fermanagh two points ahead. Patrick McBrearty then converted a free as Donegal kept their cool. With 22 minutes gone, Oisisin Gallen couldn’t get the point to level it as he missed a shot. Sean Cassidy then missed a chance to bring it back. However, with 28 minutes gone, Dáire Ó Baoil found the urge to score a long-range point to put Donegal level. Oisin Gllen then converted his free.
Paddy McBrearty then missed his chance to put Donegal two ahead as Fermanagh looked to close in before the half came to an end. Conor McGee then got the point to put Fermanagh level. Sean Cassidy however was unable to get a point in the slippery conditions to put Fermanagh ahead coming into the second half. Dáire Ó Baoil then got the point to put Donegal in front with the first half imminent. The halftime score was Donegal 0-6 Fermanagh 0-5. It was a strong performance but Donegal could pull well away in the second half if they polish the wides in the first half. Fermanagh looked strong enough.
Brandon Horan opened the second half by getting a point for Fermanagh but it was quickly cancelled out with Curran getting a Donegal point with Jack McKelvey doing likewise. Daire Ó Baoil however then got the much-needed goal to put Donegal in their stride. Micheal Langan then got his much-desired point. Daire Ó Baoil then got another goal as Donegal looked to run away with it. Peadar Mogan then got his first Doengal point in the 53rd minute.
Point number two for Jack McKelvey then came in the 59th minute as Donegal had the game wrapped up by then. Jack McKelvey then got another followed by an Aaron Doherty point.
Diarmuid King got a Fermanagh point but Aaron Doherty quickly cancelled it out. Tiarnan Bouge put his hand up to be in the Fermanagh starting lineup against Cork then with a consolation point but McBrearty cancelled it out. However, Oisin Gallen quickly came out and got a Donegal point with a minute left. The final score read Donegal 2-16 Fermanagh 0-8. It was a strong second-half performance from Donegal as they now have six points.
Donegal Scorers: Dáire Ó Baoil (2-3), Oisin Gllen (0-2), Patrick McBrearty (0-1f, 0-1), Mark Curran (0-1), Jack McKelvey (0-3), Micheal Langan (0-1), Pedar Mogan (0-1) Aaron Doherty (0-2)
Fermanagh Scorers: Sean Cassidy (0-1, 0-2f), Declan McCusker (0-1f, 0-1), Conor McGee (0-1), Brandon Horan (0-1), Diarmuid King (0-1), Tiarnan Bouge (0-1)
GAA Zone 