In the interim the Fomorians were once again also demanding an annual tribute from the Tuatha De Danann and sent their tax gatherers to collect it at Balor's Hill and while there Lugh himself personally approached them on a magnificent horse belonging to Manannan the son of Ler, and he was also wearing Manannan's breastplate and helmet and was armed with a sword, shield and poisoned darts. He immediately attacked them head on and allowed only 9 of them to escape alive to ensure that they would return to their home base as he wanted them to inform the Fomoiri how they would be received if they should come again. On their return their leader, Balor of the Stiff Blows asked, "Who could this outstanding young warrior be," and his wife replied, "He can only be the son of our daughter, Ethniu as it seems that he has cast his lot with his father's people and we shall never succeed in Ireland again." The Fomoiri then held their own counsel at which Elathan, Indech and Tethra, Breas, Balor of the Evil Eye / Stiff Blows, his wife and 12 sons and their warriors and Druids also attended to decide what action they should now take against the Tuatha De Danann.

    Meanwhile, Lugh had sent his father, Cian to travel throughout Erinn and call on the Tuatha De Danann Septs to assemble and make preparations for what was to occur if the Fomorians decided to advance against them. During his travels Cian was to come across Brian, Iuchar and Iucharba, 3 of the sons of Tuirenn, who was another of the sons of Ogma, and on seeing them ahead he decided to hide out as there was great enmity between them and Cian and his own two brothers, Cethe and Cu. Nearby he saw a herd of pigs and he hid himself within them hoping they would not see him and pass on by, but he soon became aware that they did see him and he decided to make a run for it and they chased after him and Brian then threw his spear and injured Cian who cried out for quarter. Iuchar and Iucharba were willing to back off, but Brian was adamant as he was determined to kill him and Cian cried out, "If you kill me there will be a great blood - fine to be exacted for it" and despite this clear warning they still went ahead and killed him and buried his body and continued on to Tara. Meanwhile Lugh was waiting for his father, Cian to return and due to the elapse of time decided to go and look for him himself and eventually he traced his whereabouts as far as the Plain of Muirthemne where he was informed by witnesses of what had occurred and he dug up his father's body to be sure that it was him who had actually been killed. After mourning the loss of his father he reburied his body and set up a pillar stone above the grave with Cian's name inscribed in Ogham at Ard Chein / Dromslian and returned to Tara where he saw the 3 sons of Tuirenn among those present in the hall and called an Assembly. He then asked, "What would be the vengeance anyone of you would take upon one who had murdered your father." Nuadha declared that they should "Be torn from limb to limb" and all agreed including the 3 sons of Tuirenn. Lugh then said, "Let no one leave this hall until a blood - fine has been agreed upon" and once again Nuadha replied, "I would consider them to be lucky if you are willing to accept only a fine instead of vengeance." Iuchar and Iucharba were willing to own up to the crime, but Brian was afraid Lugh would naturally not accept just a fine and he said, "We have not killed Cian, but as we are suspect we would pay the fine to remove any anger towards us." Lugh told them what he considered was a reasonable fine, but Brian was wary of the way he had expressed it, as he seemed to ask too little for what they had done. The 3 brothers then pledged that they would pay the fine willingly and Lugh gave them his pledge to ask no more of them only that they bring the spoils he requested back to Nuadha, and they then set out on the quests outlined to them and successfully carried out what turned out to be very difficult tasks. While carrying out the last task they came upon Miodhchaoin also a King of the Fomoiri who had not only trained his father Cian, but also Lugh himself who was well aware that he would be their most formidable foe, despite this they were still able to kill him during the conflict although they too were then slain in return by his 3 sons, Corc, Conn and Aedh who were also killed during this last encounter.

1869 BC The Fomorians collected all their ships from the Hebrides and went to the north coast of Ireland and landed on the mainland and marched to Tir Erril in Co. Sligo in the north - west of the Connacht Province where they waited for the Tuatha De Danann to advance against them and Morrigu informed the Daghda "Mor" that the Fomoiri forces had arrived and with his followers and the Druids they went on to the River Unius in Co. Sligo to confront them. As the Tuatha De Danann were not quite ready yet for the battle the Daghda "Mor" was to engage the Fomoiri in a lengthy dialogue to gain more time and the Fomoiri had then received him genially and he went about entertaining them and they gave him a meal. Nuadha of the Silver Hand, the Daghda "Mor," and Lugh had previously called a convention of all the learned men from the Tuatha de Danann and they had resolved to go immediately into battle, which was to be their second great battle at Moytura, but this time against the Fomoiri, 50 miles north of the original conflict they had previously carried out against the Fir Bolg, when they first arrived into Ireland.

    On the eve of Samhain the two forces were to finally come face to face in the Battle of Mag Tuireadh na b-Fomorach after the Daghda "Mor" had finished gaining enough extra time for the Tuatha De Danann to finally organize their forces by initially intervening personally with the Fomorii. During the course of the battle many of the weapons of the Fomoiri were to be destroyed and their champions killed while the Tuatha De Danann continued to gain the upper hand and the Fomoiri became more and more desperate. They sent Ruadan, the son of Breas and Brigid, who was also the grandson of the Daghda "Mor" disguised as a Tuatha De Danann warrior as they wanted to find out why the Tuatha De Danann were continuing to be so successful against them. He came upon Creidne, Gobhan "Saer" and Luchtaine who he could see were the ones who were rapidly repairing their weapons as quickly as they were being damaged during the battle. He returned to the Fomoiri camp and advised them of what was going on and they told him to go back and kill Gobhan "Saer" so he returned to the Tuatha De Danann position and approached Gobhan "Saer" asking him for a javelin, and taking it up he speared him with it. Gobhan "Saer" then withdrew it from his own body and threw it back at Ruadan who was also severely wounded, but was still able to flee back to the Fomoiri lines where he was later to die, while Gobhan "Saer" had gone straight to Diancecht and his daughter, Airmid to be healed.