This was the cliched game of two halves as Fermanagh were pretty much outgunned after a fine opening half against a much more physical and clinical Donegal side in O’Donnell Park in Letterkenny last Saturday.

Kieran Donnelly’s young men played with composure and class in the opening half and asked some really serious questions of the home favourites as jittery Donegal hit seven first-half wides.

But it all changed with Donegal’s first freakish goal as Fermanagh wilted and it turned into a long second half for the Ernesiders.

Cork is now the big challenge and two points are a must if they are to try and stay in Division Two.

Disappointed Fermanagh team manager Kieran Donnelly said his side had a good opening half and were “in a good place".

“We felt we were pinning Donegal back but they came out in the second half and got scores at key times and they are a physically big team and once they pinned us in we struggled to get out.

“We took contact when we didn’t need to and were turned over several times that led to big scores and we left some scores behind us.

“But we are a young squad and that is a massive learning curve for us, and we are going to have to re-focus for Cork.”

On the crucial goal where keeper Ross Bogue was caught out, Donnelly said it was a matter of risk versus reward.

“Ross did so well for us against Kildare and we felt we did not help him in that phase as we took the ball into contact when he was out and that is critical too.

“It was disappointing to lose that goal at that stage.

“The risk outweighed the reward in that sense and once they got the goal, they got the run on us and then we forced things, and they pinned us in and they are physically very powerful and we struggled to get out and get any traction.

“That was the hardest part of the game and it turned from a very close game to them going six or seven points up very quickly."

But the whole focus is now on Cork.

“Yes, that’s right and this is a big week for us.

“They have had a frustrating start and are a quality team and they have size and athleticism and it will be a big task for us but it is one we will relish.

“We will forget about this game and focus on Cork.”