Patrick McElwee leads the way as Donegal shoot down Fermanagh

The game kicked off with a rapid exchange of points, as Seanan Carr swiftly notched a mark for Donegal, countered by Michael Burns' precise strike for Fermanagh. Donegal surged ahead with consecutive scores from Patrick McElwee and Finbarr Roarty before Diarmuid Owens narrowed the deficit for Fermanagh. Luke McGlynn and McElwee widened Donegal's lead before half-time.

After the break, McElwee extended Donegal's advantage with a remarkable long-range effort, swiftly countered by Owens' exquisite finish. Donegal surged ahead with McGlynn's free-kick and a brilliantly orchestrated goal involving McElwee, Carr, and Oisín Caulfield.

Apart from a late attempt on goal by Fermanagh, thwarted by Damien McGowan's heroics, Donegal dominated the closing stages. Caulfield, Karl Magee, and McGlynn sealed the victory with a flurry of scores.

The win sets the stage for a highly-anticipated clash with Armagh in two weeks, as Shaun Paul Barrett's men continue their impressive campaign in the Ulster Championship.

Scorers – Donegal: P McElwee 1-3 (1m); L McGlynn 0-3 (1f); KJ Molloy (1m) and O Caulfield 0-2 each; F Roarty, K Magee and S Carr (1m) 0-1 each. Fermanagh: D Owens 0-3; C O’Hanlon (1f) and M Burns 0-1 each.

Donegal: D McGowan; C Gallagher, F Roarty, K Magee; F Coll, O Caulfield, S Martin; C Reid, S Ward; C McGinty, L McGlynn, S Carr; E Kelly, P McElwee, K J Molloy. Subs: C McMenamin for Gallagher (43), K Lynch, A McGeever, and D Gildea for Molloy, Reid and Carr (52), L Clerkin for Coll (59).

Fermanagh: S Mulligan; C McAnespie, L MacEnrí, A Callaghan; J McCauley, S McCarron, M Burns; J Flanagan, L Donnelly; C O’Brien, C O’Hanlon, D Owens; J Quinlan, S Conlon, K Fitzpatrick. Subs: M McDermott and D Ó Kelly for Flanagan and Fitzpatrick (ht), C Brennan for McCaffrey (41), S Deazley for Burns (52), L Feely for O’Brien (57).

Ref: D Boylan (Monaghan).