Published: Thursday, 11th March, 2010 9:56am

Hurlers can't match Farney scoring power

Monaghan 4-14; Fermanagh 3-07;

Fermanagh goal scorer Brendan McGarry and Karl Kehoe in a tussle for the sliotar with Monaghan opponents in Corduff on Sunday.

Fermanagh suffered their first defeat in NHL Division Four on Sunday when they were easily beaten by Monaghan at Corduff. Fermanagh opened their league campaign with victory over Leitrim at Brewster Park last Sunday but they had no answer to the Farney men on Sunday who finished up comprehensive nine point winners.

Fermanagh had made a good start to the contest with Sean Corrigan firing home an early goal and Brendan McGarry clipping over a point but Monaghan soon took control of matters and by the break they had moved into a seven point advantage, 1-10 to 1-03. Fermanagh again had a scoring burst at the start of the second half as they looked to get back into contention but Monaghan settled back into their stride and in the the end they were comfortable winners as they remain unbeaten in the division.

Fermanagh were without key defenders Declan McGarry and Matthew Teague for the game due to injuries but Rory O'Donnell's side made an excellent opening to the encounter as they seized the early initiative.

The game was only moments old when corner forward Sean Corrigan latched onto an incoming pass and blasted home the opening goal of the contest.

Shortly after full forward Brendan McGarry increased the lead as he tagged on a point from play to put Fermanagh in an early control of affairs.

However, Monaghan began to come more into things and from the tenth minute on they dominated the half. The constant pressure by the Farney men led to Fermanagh defenders conceding many frees which were punished by scores. Monaghan full forward Michael McHugh tapped over two frees and this was followed by a succession of points from Brian Phelan, Declan Crowe, Sean Leonard and Michael Lennon. And the home side's superiority was transferred to the scoreboard when corner forward Brian McGuigan slotted the ball past Fermanagh goalkeeper Peter McAvoy to record his team's first goal of the game.

John Duffy and Sean Corrigan did notch late points in the half but by the break Monaghan had a firm control of the clash with seven points dividing the sides.

As in the first half, Fermanagh got the second half off to a bright start with Brendan McGarry registering the away side's second goal of the encounter in the early stages of the half. And when John Duffy then banged over his second point, Fermanagh were right back in the game with the gap having been closed to three poitns.

However, this was followed by five Fermanagh wides and after this Monaghan again grabbed the upperhand as McGuigan knocked in a goal for the home side while Sean Leonard was to raise the green flag twice during the half. The accurate McHugh and Seamus Loftus also rattled over points to stretch their advantage further.

Fermanagh did have a third goal with Sean Corrigan accounting for his second of the game while John Duffy and Paul McGoldrick added points but it was too little, too late as Monaghan took the spoils. Next up for Fermanagh is Cavan on Sunday in Irvinestown and O'Donnell will be looking for his side to bounce back after this disappointment.