All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers Round Three/Monaghan 2-12 Donegal 1-7:Monaghan manager Seamus McEnaney heaped praise on his team after their convincing victory over Donegal in Omagh on Saturday earned them an appearance in the All-Ireland quarter-finals. After their disappointing defeat, Donegal manager Brian McIver stepped down after two seasons in charge.

Vincent Corey and Tommy Freeman hit the goals that ended the championship challenge of the National League title-holders.

"People outside of our family, of the team, may not know the commitment these fellows are giving, but I'm very proud of them and they're very proud aney. of each other," said a delighted McEnaney.

"It was winner takes all. They played out of their skin again, these fellows have worked tremendously hard for Monaghan."

Monaghan couldn't have wished for a better start, Tommy Freeman's delivery hopping and allowing Vincent Corey, who was listed at full back but started at full forward, to nip in and flick to the net past a hesitant Derry goalkeeper Paul Durcan.

The possibility Corey would play at full forward had been well flagged. He had switched to the edge of the attacking square in the second half of the Ulster final against Tyrone, and proved influential as Monaghan almost produced a huge upset.

And by the 22nd minute, Monaghan led by 1-4 to 0-2, with Freeman and Paul Finlay adding points.

Rory Kavanagh, Donegal's most dangerous attacker, swept over a couple of points and the men from the north-west finished the half strongly, with Kevin Cassidy and Colm McFadden, from a free, narrowing the gap to 1-5 to 0-5 at the break.

Donegal were right back in contention three minutes into the second half when Christy Toye sent Kavanagh through to blast to the roof of the net.

The sides were now level and Donegal were in the ascendancy, but somehow they allowed their challenge to die, and subsequently went 28 minutes without scoring. Monaghan responded defiantly to the concession of the goal and Corey knocked Rory Woods's delivery down for Freeman who clinically drove home their second goal in the 56th minute.

Monaghan never released their stranglehold on the contest from there until the finish, with their opponents' challenge collapsing in alarming fashion.

Further points from Finlay, Freeman and substitutes Ciarán Hanratty and Shane Smith ensured a handsome winning margin and made it another dismal day for Donegal.

"I wasn't one bit worried when the goal went in. The mental strength of this team has matured a lot," said McEnaney.

"Goals come in games, but as long as you keep performing and stick to the game plan. And they stuck to the last letter of the law to the game plan, fair play to them."

"Vinny Corey, you could play him anywhere, we moved him back to full back for the last 10 minutes. Any of these fellows can play in any position. In today's game you have to be able to play anywhere.

"We went for the jugular, we played with the breeze in the first half, we felt that if we got in ball early we'd get an early goal.

"For the people of Monaghan it's a great occasion going to Croke Park. It's an All-Ireland quarter-final, we haven't been there in a long time, or ever.

"We expected to win this game, and if you were in our dressingroom, it's very calm. We expected to win and the clock is ticking. Our next game is our All-Ireland final," added the Monaghan manager.

However, for McIver it's the end of the road after two years in charge.

Having led the county to a first National Football League title, he does leave a legacy of sorts, but once again, their championship challenge faded away in disappointing fashion And McIver had no excuses for his team's defeat.

"We were in a good position after half-time when we drew level, but Tommy Freeman's goal was a real killer. And to be fair to Monaghan, they had the real bite, the drive and the passion. We should have been in a position to go on and win the match, but we just couldn't get the ball," said McIver.

"Up front they were very sharp, and they were using the ball well. We were playing all the time under pressure, and they were a much, much superior side in the last 20 minutes.

"We felt at half-time we had a grip on the game, and if we could just apply a bit of pressure, we might be able to turn the screw on them. We started the second half well, and we were well in it, but their second goal was the killer."

MONAGHAN: S Duffy; D Mone, C Flanagan, D McArdle; D Freeman, G McQuaid, JP Mone; E Lennon, D Clerkin; P Finlay (0-4, two frees), R Woods, C McManus; S Gollogly, V Corey (1-1), T Freeman (1-5 (two frees). Subs: C Hanratty (0-1) for Gollogly (half-time), D Hughes for JP Mone (45 mins), P Meegan for McManus (47 mins), H McElroy for D Freeman (66 mins), S Smith (0-1) for Woods (70 mins).

DONEGAL: P Durcan; N McGee, P Campbell, K Lacey; N McCready, B Monaghan, F McGlynn; K Cassidy (0-1), N Gallagher; R Kavanagh (1-2), C Bonner, R Bradley; C McFadden (0-1, free), M Murphy, B Devenney (0-1, free). Subs: B Dunnion for Campbell (24 mins), C Toye for Bradley (26 mins), M Hegarty for Murphy (51 mins), E McGee (0-1) for McGlynn (59 mins), K McMenamin (0-1) for Devenney (59 mins).

Referee: J McKee (Armagh).