Fermanagh have another escape as a high ball leads to a scramble which Niall Kearns' close-range effort going wide. We're near the halfway mark and McManus' 16th-minute point remains their only score.

Image source, Inpho

Cian Murtagh
BBC Sport NI at Healy Park

Fermanagh are asking different questions of Monaghan at the moment and the Farneymen are struggling to come up with the answers.

Fermanagh are so well drilled that Monaghan are finding it difficult to find a way through to goal and they have struck seven wides already.

Rory Beggan's kick outs are being put under huge pressure too as Eoin Donnelly and Ryan Jones are proving a formidable barrier in midfield.

Martin McHugh
BBC Sport NI pundit

"Monaghan need a lift here, but I still think they will be good enough to come back and win the game."

Sean Quigley restores Fermanagh's three-point lead with another free on 20 minutes. Looked another soft award with Drew Wylie penalised. Monaghan look a little rattled it must be said.

After Aidan Breen slots another beauty from play for Fermanagh, Conor McManus opens Monaghan's account in the 16th minute with a free. A badly needed score for a Monaghan side that are misfiring so far.

Rory Gallagher has recycled that old Donegal tactic of using three men to wave their arms in the air when the opposition is attempting a long-range free. It affected Tyrone keeper Niall Morgan a couple of years ago at Ballybofey and Rory Beggan, so reliable against Tyrone, has missed this free from just inside 45 metres.

Jack McCarron looks certain to open Monaghan account in the 12th minute but pushes his shot wide. The Farney men have not made the start they wanted.

Cian Murtagh
BBC Sport NI at Healy Park

We all knew this wasn't going to be a high-scoring encounter but this is ridiculous!

Monaghan filtering 14 players back into their own half whenever they don't have possession, while Fermanagh are forming themselves into a solid defensive circle from their own 45m line.

Every turnover is being cheered as though it is a score by the crowd - they know what they have signed up for here today.

Sean Quigley point a free from 40 metres. Looked a soft enough one for a challenge on Ryan Jones but Quigley kicks the free.

Martin McHugh
BBC Sport NI pundit

"Fermanagh have started the game well but Monaghan seem to be in second gear and not up for it at all."

Monaghan are inches away from replying with a goal as Darren Hughes' fisted attempt for a point comes back off an upright and is then almost carried over his own goalline by Fermanagh wing-back Barry Mulrone. A free out is award to lift the pressure off the Ernemen.

Aidan Breen kicks Fermanagh into a sixth-minute lead with a beauty from play.

Nothing on the scoreboard yet. Fermanagh wing-back Declan McCusker has hit the first wide after four minutes. A cagey start.

The sun is shining brightly as the ball is thrown in.

Cian Murtagh
BBC Sport NI at Healy Park

Seamus Quigley is warming up vigorously away to my right as Ryan McMenamin puts the Fermanagh players through their paces.

The Ernesiders' star forward is wearing a red training bib to signify that he will start the game as a sub but there's no suggestion from his movement that he is an injury concern.

This seems to be a tactical decision by Rory Gallagher to keep something in reserve for later in the game.

Quigley is in the shape of his life but perhaps Gallagher is still concerned he would not last the pace of an entire 70 minutes?

Cian Murtagh
BBC Sport NI at Healy Park

My route to Healy Park today took me through Monaghan and I can report that the county is well and truly in the grip of Championship fever.

From Carrickmacross to just before the Tyrone border at Aughnacloy, the roadsides are crowded with posters and banners from local clubs, communities and politicians wishing Malachy O’Rourke and his players the best of luck.

I also passed the pristine Monaghan training centre in Cloghan where the senior squad were already gathered this morning to go through their pre-match warm-up.

So much is made of how O’Rourke has done such a fine job with limited resources in a county the size of Monaghan but the same could be said about how the county board has steered the ship in recent years.

Seamus Quigley's withdrawal means Fermanagh make one change from the win over Armagh as Ciaran Corrigan is drafted into the attack.

Monaghan are unchanged from their win over Tyrone.

Monaghan: R Beggan, K Duffy, D Wylie, R Wylie, D Mone, V Corey, F Kelly, K O'Connell, D Hughes, K Hughes, N Kearns, D Ward, R McAnespie, J McCarron, C McManus.

Fermanagh: P Cadden, K Connor, C Cullen, M Jones, B Mulrone, J McMahon, Lee Cullen, Eoin Donnolly, Ryan Jones, P McCusker, D McCusker, A Breen, Sean Quigley, C Jones, C Corrigan.

Oisin McConville
BBC Sport NI pundit

"A lot of people see Monaghan as similar to Dublin in that even if you stay with them, they can then grind you down in the final 10 minutes."