A physically stronger Dublin team always seemed to have the upper hand on Fermanagh, although Dublin did make life difficult for themselves by kicking a lot of wides in the first half.

    Fermanagh though can certainly be pleased with their campaign this year.

    An Ulster league final was followed by an Ulster championship final and also an All Ireland quarter-final which is no mean feat especially when it is taken into consideration that a number of key players missed out through injury.

    Facing Dublin was always going to be a difficult task for Fermanagh but they were hoping that it would adversely affect the Dubs to be playing away from Croke Park. This though was not to be the case and Dublin showed why they are Leinster champions and among the favourites to lift the All Ireland.

    A swirling wind which did not really give any side an advantage blew throughout the game.

    Fermanagh made a good start to the encounter when midfielder Shane O’Brien pointed well from a free following a foul on captain Neville McGrath.

    It took Dublin a while to settle into the game and it was six minutes before they got off the mark with Aidan Religan pointing from a free.

    Kevin Leahy put Dublin ahead with a point after collecting a short free from Mark Vaughan.

    Dublin were beginning to get on top at this stage but Fermanagh managed to bring the sides level at 0-2 when Paul O’Brien won a miss hit free by Ritchie McCaffrey and drove over.

    While Dublin were on top with Brendan Phelan and Gerard O’Hara exerting influence at midfield, a mixture of poor shooting and good defending by Paul Johnston kept Fermanagh in touch.

    Kevin Leahy added his second point of the game in the 14th minute. Dublin full back, Kian Cleere, who stood out as the most outstanding player on the pitch, won the ball which was quickly transferred down the field to Leahy who pointed.

    From the kick-out Gerard Brennan won possession and fed centre forward Barry Kennedy who turned inside and pointed to put two points between the sides at the half way stage of the first half.

    Fermanagh managed to hit back with a Terry O’Flanagan free from close range after Ritchie McCaffrey was fouled as he went past his marker but this was to be Fermanagh’s final score of the half.

    Dublin began to find their shooting boots in the last seven minutes of the half and they doubled their score to eight points before the break.

    Mark Vaughan knocked over a huge free to put Dublin 0-5 to 0-3 ahead and this was followed by an Aidan Relihan point following an error by Dwyane McAlynn.

    Barry Kennedy and Mark Vaughan from a free were the other Dublin scorers during this period and this gave them a five point advantage at the break, 0-8 to 0-3.

    While Dublin were guilty of some poor shooting in the first half, Fermanagh also kicked five wides.

    At half time Fermanagh introduced Rory Rafferty and Aidan Gallagher into their attack for Ritchie McCaffrey and Terry O’Flanagan.

    Fermanagh needed to get early scores if they were to get back in the game but it was Dublin who stretched their lead further with a point from pacy corner forward John O’Hara.

    Neville McGrath brought the gap back to five points when he blasted over after good work from Rory Rafferty and Shane O’Brien.

    Things could have improved further for Fermanagh a minute later but Shane O’Brien’s free came back off the crossbar and was cleared by the Dublin defence.

    Dublin once again settled after this and were soon tagging on further points.

    John O’Hara added his score of the game, sprinting through before curling the ball over the bar, to make it 0-10 to 0-4 and wing back Ian Ward got in on the scoring act when he received a pass from Kian Cleere before breaking up the field and pointing.

    By now Dublin were dominating in most sectors of the pitch and substitute John O’Brien increased their lead further with a point from the left.

    As Dublin continued to control the game they added points through Relihan and Vaughan to move into a 0-14 to 0-4 lead with five minutes remaining.

    Shane O’Brien knocked over from a free, his second score of the game but it was Dublin who had the final say in the match with Kevin Leahy registering his third score of the game.

    Fermanagh, who had good performances from Paul Johnston and Niall Tinney, will be disappointed to see their season come to an end but they were beaten by a very good side who could go on to win the whole thing.