Rory Gallagher knows that bigger days and games lay ahead but he was satisfied to clinch a win in his first game in charge of his native county as they finished up 2-11 to 0-12 winners over Monaghan.

Two second half goals proved decisive for Gallagher's side who did some good things over the game but as the manager acknowledges, there is still plenty to work on.

"There are much more important days than the McKenna Cup but it is good to win because when you win games it generally shows that you are doing some things right. But I also thought there was a lot of naivety there in the second half late on. We were forcing a number of kick outs, letting Monaghan get a number of short kick outs having done well at the start of the second half and giving a lot of ball away but it is a starting point for us," said Gallagher.

Fermanagh trailed by a point at the break having wasted a number of scoring chances over the course of the half, registering eight wides in the opening 35 minutes.

"The second half I thought we improved a lot," said Gallagher. "In the first half I felt we were very nervy although we probably should still have went in ahead at half time as we missed a number of easy chances and a number of easy frees. You seen Monaghan, albeit they are missing a number of their top names, they were very clincial with any chances they got and their free taking was excellent."

Goals though were crucial after the break with Conall Jones rifling to the net inside the first minute and the hard working Aidan Breen then adding a second midway through the half. Having struggled to score goals last season, it is something that Gallagher is keen to improve this term.

"It is something that we are very conscience of, that goals were hard come by for the boys last year and we have spoke about it and what's needed to get them and I thought that we looked dangerous even in the first half. I thought the two goals we got were put away well," he added.