While O’Rourke has few complaints
knew that Fermanagh would keep at us and that’s how it turned out. We can’t have any complaints really at the end of the day.”
Eoin Donnelly’s name will certainly be up in lights in Fermanagh over the next few weeks but the modest team skipper played down his match-winning goal that sparked ecstatic celebrations immediately after the game.
Healy Park was transformed into a sea of green and Donnelly was the prime target for the fans’ adulation.
And his goal was the understandably a hot topic.
“I managed to get a hand to the ball but it could just as easily have gone over the bar or it could have gone out of play. We got a rub of the green and it went into the net.
Luck was certainly on our side but I think we earned our luck because Healy Park is a big pitch, it was a sweltering hot day and Monaghan are a fantastic side,” said Donnelly.
“It was never going to be an easy game. You won’t get to a final unless you absolutely empty the tank. I think in this game all the boys put in a huge effort and left everything out there on the pitch.”
Donnelly will now have the rare honour of leading a Fermanagh side into Ulster final battle against either Down or Donegal on June 24.
“In years gone by, Monaghan have been able to roll on boys from the bench and kick on in the second half when we played them, but on this occasion thankfully we were able to hold out,” added Donnelly.
“We were able to nullify some of their key players and that was a big help to us. While we are looking forward to the Ulster final now we know it will be a very tough challenge no matter who we meet.
“It will be heads down for the next three weeks as far as we are concerned.”