From a lazy afternoon in Enniskillen sprung another minor revolution. Monaghan supporters strolled casually up to Brewster Park yesterday, pessimistic about a third successive meeting with Fermanagh and fearing that too little had changed from last year.

On the field, however, it was a different story. A fearless Monaghan side would bleed enough to earn their first championship win in six years, setting up a Ulster semi-final against Cavan and sending Fermanagh back into another bout with Donegal (the third this year) in the first round qualification group.

The word surprise has been overused already this summer, but no one expected to see Monaghan eight points clear at half-time. They didn't enjoy such comforts in the second half, but, with enough enthusiasm around to spill over, the fightback from Fermanagh was duly handled.

"Delighted and proud," was how manager Jack McCarville assessed his team's performance. "We had a game plan and it worked. Part of it was to put Raymond (Ronaghan) at full forward and play Fermanagh at their own game. And we knew if we got the ball in early then we had a chance, and the goals did come."

Part of the neutral's fear surrounding this game was that Fermanagh's two games already this summer would give them the greater pace. Far from it, in fact, as Monaghan were the ones running on their toes.

Although Rory Gallagher chipped Fermanagh a point clear in the opening minutes, the lead was then always in Monaghan's favour, ranging from nine points to the final tally of two.

It was a finely balanced performance built on a stern defence and freshly ambitious forwards. Gary McQuaid was the outstanding element of the full-back line, but John Paul Moone at centre back always kept a tight tab on Rory Gallagher, and that definitely took the sting out of Stephen Maguire, previously the big danger in this Fermanagh side.

Up front, they had plenty of talent to play with, as Ciaran Tavey, Darren Farmer and Ronaghan all displayed vision and scope so far unearthed. Backing that up further was the midfield pairing of James McElroy and Jason Hughes, on the whole a more productive combination than Paul Brewster and Liam McBarron.

Tavey finished off their first goal after just five minutes, following on a sideline ball from James McElroy that was mishandled by Paddy McGuinness. The second, 15 minutes later, was the more impressive and involved a long ball from Farmer, a touch from Tavey, and then a pinpoint finish from Ronaghan. That left Fermanagh trailing 2-3 to 0-1, and from then on they could only improve.

After the turnaround, Tom Brewster was doing his best to inspire his side but the response was slow in coming. As referee Michael Curley continued to be liberal with the whistle (someone counted 57 frees by the end), Gallagher took every chance he got. That helped close the gap to four midway through the second half.

But the goal Fermanagh really wanted refused to come. Shane King and then Maguire both had their chances but luck deserted them on this occasion. Mark O'Donnell tried hard as well and another substitute Barry Owens could have had the final word but the heart of Monaghan was strong and the early damage was enough to ensure they would hold on.

Yet McCarville was more confident about Monaghan's prospects than other people had reckoned: "We looked at the video of last year and we were desperate. Very few players got their challenges in and we were working on that this year. And we got players in who want to play with Monaghan and want to win with Monaghan.

"Even in the second half I felt their threat was coming from the counterattack, and we could have been putting the ball out dead rather than putting pressure on our defence. But the whole defence worked and tackled tremendously."

For opposing manager John Maughan, it was simply a matter of playing too well too late: "Of course it's disappointing, but they were very well prepared and seemed to know our style. They played the better football overall and we've no complaints.

"I felt we had to be patient in the second half but instead we rushed a few chances, when maybe a point would have been a better decision. Even still, we had our goal chances but we just didn't take them."

And so to another rendezvous with Donegal? "Well we've played them twice now and they've failed to beat us," said Maughan. "We're not a bad team, and I thought we played some good football in the second 35 minutes. We'll just have to do our best again."

Monaghan - 2-10, C Tavey 1-3, three frees; R Ronaghan 1-0; D Farmer 0-2, frees; J McElroy 0-2; D Smyth 0-1; T Freeman 0-1; G Meehan 0-1 Fermanagh - 0-14 R Gallagher 0-8, six frees; T Brewster 0-4; K Donnelly 0-1; M O'Donnell 0-1

Referee: M Curley (Galway).

Attendance: 12,000 (est).