Patrick McBrearty (1-7) stole the show as Donegal claimed a 3-10 to 0-6 victory over Fermanagh at blustery Ballybofey.

The losers gave as good as they got in the first half of this derby but Donegal led by 2-4 to 0-5 at the interval thanks to late goals from Willie Gillespie and Ciaran Brennan.

The Ernemen played with the assistance of a gale-force wind in the first half and they notched the first three points, with Eddie Courtney and Louis Leonard taking fine scores.

County senior McBrearty and Courtney swapped frees twice to leave the underdogs in a comfortable 0-5 to 0-2 lead after 22 minutes but Donegal finished the half strongest with great points from McBrearty and Ciaran Thompson as well as those two goals from Gillespie and Brennan.

The hosts kicked on with a McBrearty brace after the restart and Fermanagh responded with a Eoin McManus free. McBrearty's free at the other end made it 2-7 to 0-6.

Ryan McHugh's score ensured that eight points separated the teams at end of the first quarter. McBrearty had provided the pass for that point and he helped himself to another brace before coolly slotting home a Donegal penalty in the 60th minute to ensure that the Tir Chonail men would progress to the last four with 13 points to spare.

Donegal - J Coll; C Parke, C Brennan (1-0), A McCloskey; E McHugh, R McHugh (0-1), G Gallagher; H McFadden (0-1), B McNelis; E Doherty, C Thompson (0-1), M O'Reilly; D Mulgrew, P McBrearty (1-7, 1-0pen, 0-3f), W Gillespie (1-0). Subs: D O'Connor for D Mulgrew, G Clancy for B McNelis, B Griffin for E Doherty, C Cannon for E McHugh.

Fermanagh - P Sweeney; K McDonnell, C Cullen, E Hamill; N Shannon, L Cullen, S McManus; R Lyons, R Hyde; D Teague, R Corrigan, L Leonard (0-1); T McCaffery (0-1), E Courtney (0-3f), E McManus (0-1f). Subs: L Jones for T McCaffery, J Allen for R Lyons, B McAleer for E McManus, N Maguire for D Teague, N Carson for S McManus.

Referee - D Connolly. Tweet

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