Fermanagh 2-15 Dublin 2-23 Fermanagh's championship run came to an end in Croke Park today but Pete McGrath's side refused to go down without a fight, producing a battling second half performance before eventually losing by eight points to Jim Gavin's Dublin.

The Dubs were much the sharper of the sides in the first half and went in leading by ten at the break, 1-13 to 0-06.

However, Fermanagh never threw in the towel in the second half and an own goal from Stephen Cluxton and a tap in from Tomas Corrigan meant that it finished 2-23 to 2-15 in the Dubs favour.

Fermanagh started the first half brightly but they failed to make this count on the scoreboard as they registered three early wides and eight in all over the first 35 minutes of the contest.

McGrath's side enjoyed their fair share of possession in the opening period but the Dubs were clinical in attack with Bernard Brogan and Ciaran Kilkenny both causing numerous problems for the Erne defence, Brogan finishing the half with 1-04 and Kilkenny with 0-03.

The sides traded scores in the early stages with Paddy Andrews firing over for Dublin and Sean Quigley replying for Fermanagh.

Points from Kilkenny (2) and Brogan moved the Dubs into a 0-04 to 0-01 lead before Brogan then latched onto a wonderful ball over the top from Jack McCaffrey to plant the ball in the back of the net.

Fermanagh did continue to battle and Tomas Corrigan knocked over two points either side of a fine effort from Diarmuid Connolly.

The menace Dublin posed going forward was evident throughout the half though and Brogan and Kilkenny kept their tally ticking over although Barry Mulrone responded with two points for Fermanagh to make it 1-07 to 0-05 after 28 minutes.

The Dubs though kicked on and five points in six minutes pushed the them into a strong advantage, Brogan (2), Dean Rock, Connolly and Paul Flynn made it 1-12 to 0-05.

The sides swapped points in the closing moments of the half with Quigley landing his second point from play before Rock rounded off the half to leave ten between them at the interval, 1-13 to 0-06.

Quigley and Rock exchanged long range efforts in the opening minutes of the second half before the Dubs pushed on with points from Rock (2) and Andrews to move into a 1-17 to 0-07 lead.

Quigley, who had a terrific second half, knocked over Fermanagh's next four points but Brogan, Brian Menton were among the scorers for Dublin as they hit back with four of their own.

Fermanagh were then given a boost when Cluxton was adjudged to have carried the ball over the line to leave it 1-21 to 1-11 with nine minutes to go.

And there was to be an entertaining conclusion to the contest with Dublin having a goal from Paul Flynn before Conall Jones knocked over two fine points from play and Tomas Corrigan tapped home after the ball broke into his path.

A superb Quigley free rounded things off and at the end Fermanagh left to the applause from their supporters, their championship campaign finished but a season that was full of positives.