Stephen Maguire is challenged by Joey Jordan of Cavan

Paul Brewster forgot the disappointment of an Ulster semi-final defeat to Down to come off the bench and help Fermanagh keep their All-Ireland campaign alive.

Seven days after crumbling to the Mournemen and missing out on the provincial decider, Fermanagh overpowered Cavan in the 'back door' qualifying event.

The system , which gives losers in the provincial championship a second bite at the All-Ireland cherry, has its critics.

But Brewster, for one, was glad of the opportunity to revive Fermanagh's season with a 0-16 to 1-10 victory at Brewster Park.

"This back door system is great for the likes of ourselves," said the seasoned midfielder.

"In previous years, Fermanagh often had to be content with one championship outing each summer.

"But now we are able to show we are one of the better teams about and not one of the also-rans.

"Our younger players are getting two, three, four Championships games and that will do us the power of good.

Match report: Fermanagh 0-16 Cavan 1-10

"We are licking our lips now to see who we will get in the draw."

Brewster's exclusion from Fermanagh's starting 15 sparked a rumour that the Enniskillen clubman had retired from inter-county football.

But Brewster said team boss Dominic Corrigan had felt it was right to give other players a start.

"There was no way I wanted to miss Cavan at Brewster Park," added Brewster.

"We have had a couple of Titanic tussles with them in previous campaigns and I was not going to let this opportunity slip."

Raymond Gallagher was Fermanagh's top scorer with six points. Cavan's Dermot McCabe also scored six while team-mate Jason Reilly netted the only goal of the game in the 27th minute.