Finally, after much threatening, Fermanagh footballers have developed into a real championship outfit. Yesterday in Clones the so-called Cinderella side of Ulster demonstrated their new maturity - in both physique and mentality - with the sort of comprehensive win over Monaghan which would have been beyond their reach in recent years.

The invasion of the pitch at the end told its own story, a championship victory delivering some nourishment to supporters who have known more heartbreak and heard more hard-luck tales than a croupier at a blackjack table. But this was the day that Fermanagh stepped out of the shadows, and the day too that a younger brother emerged from the shadow cast by his elder sibling.

Tom Brewster, at 21 some six years younger than Paul Brewster, was an inspiring figure in a Fermanagh win that books them an encounter with Tyrone next month. That's another day's work, but the undoubted promise that had threatened to explode in previous years (remember the defeat to Cavan in the championship two years ago?) finally looks as if it has arrived to stay.

Fermanagh's coming of age hasn't been easy. Not only were they beset by injuries in the run-up to yesterday's match, but the concession of a goal inside two minutes (from the penalty spot) hinted that they were in for another of those nearly days. For good measure, Monaghan's Declan Smyth was in the sort of captivating mood that torments opponents and inspires colleagues - but even that wizardry was eventually contained after three different markers were assigned to the job. Persistence paid off.

Indeed, the eventual taming of Smyth epitomised Fermanagh's entire work-ethic. It wasn't uncommon for corner forwards Shane King or Raymond Gallagher to be seen acting like defenders in halting Monaghan moves at source, nor for the midfielders Paul Brewster and Liam McBarron to be on the edge of their square acting as defenders one minute and up the other end of the field in an attacking role a minute later.

Tom Brewster's impact, though, was greatest of all. "A tremendous performance," conceded Fermanagh manager Pat King. "He got the scores when we needed them, and he used the ball so intelligently at all times. He'd a terrific game."

Brewster, in fact, contributed six points, three from frees, in a match which Fermanagh spent much of the early part chasing - but once they drew level, and then grabbed the lead in time for the half-time break, it was obvious to everyone that the control of the game had swung their way.

Monaghan's best work was done in the first 15 minutes. They may have won the sprint, but Fermanagh won the marathon. A mere 90 seconds into the game, Smyth - who had been fouled by Paul Brewster - slotted home a penalty. By the 15th minute Monaghan had moved into a five-point lead that was entirely deserved. However, Frank McEneaney's influence at midfield faded dramatically and the dynamic approach adopted by the forward unit changed to a more conservative one.

Fermanagh did get a lucky break that proved to be the catalyst for their revival. Tom Brewster's perseverance was rewarded when he kept in play a 45 that appeared destined to be waved wide and the ball broke to Raymond Gallagher who had his shot blocked by Dermot McDermott. However, referee Michael Convery deemed McDermott to have handled the ball on the ground and, from the resultant penalty, Shane King fired home.

By half-time, Fermanagh had worked their way into a 1-6 to 1-5 lead - and the problems in the Monaghan side were already evident as they went 23 minutes in that first period without a score until Ian Larmer scored an injury-time point to leave that one point half-time deficit.

It didn't take long for Fermanagh to go further ahead, though. In the 38th minute, Sean Quinn swung in a high ball into the Monaghan goalmouth that fell to King after Monaghan's Tony Collins and Glen Murphy collided. King demonstrated a lovely deft touch to first-time the ball to the net, and the game was already slipping away from Monaghan.

Indeed, fears that Fermanagh would struggle in the physical strength department proved groundless. "I'd heard those opinions aired over the past few days, but I knew my players had put on an extra stone or so each from that Cavan game two years ago - and it wasn't fat or being unfit, it was sheer muscle," said King afterwards. And that increased physical presence, particularly around midfield where McBarron was superb, meant that Fermanagh kept control of the game as it entered its crucial final 10 minutes.

Monaghan got a second wind at that stage. JP Mone had kicked a long-range point and Smyth had narrowed the gap to just two points with a free, while Fermanagh goalkeeper Cormac McAdam was also called on to dive low to save from Smyth. And, when Colm Bradley and Paul Brewster kicked wides from good chances, the anxiety in the Fermanagh supporters in the crowd of 12,121 was palpable.

But Tom Brewster eased their worries. In the 64th minute, he got on the end of a move that had involved Gallagher, Johnson and Bradley - the 18-year-old substitute tagged their "secret weapon" by the team's manager - and the centre-half forward kicked a magnificent point to give his team a three-point cushion. A minute later he added another one. "It was hit and hope stuff," said Brewster modestly, before elaborating: "I knew we needed a few scores.