And the man they set to watch was not gone far when he saw five strong battalions of the Men of Dea coming towards him.  He went back then to the hill and he said:  “It is what I think, that the troops that are come against us this time and are standing now around the grave of the Man of Enchantments are a match for any other fighting men.”

Finn called to his people then, and he said:  “These are good fighters are come against you, having strong red spears.  And let you all do well now in the battle.  And it is what you have to do,” he said, “to keep the little troop of brothers, the sons of Midhir, safe in the fight; for it would be a treachery to friendship any harm to come on them, and we after joining them; and myself and Caoilte are the oldest among you, and leave the rest of the battle to us.”

Then from the covering time of evening to the edge of the morning they fought the battle.  And the loss of the Tuatha de Danaan was no less a number than ten hundred ten score and ten men.  Then Bodb Dearg and Midhir and Fionnbhar said to one another:  “What are we to do with all these?  And let Lir of Sidhe Fionnachaidh give us an advice,” they said, “since he is the oldest of us.”  And Lir said:  “It is what I advise, let every one carry away his friends and his fosterlings, his sons and his brothers, to his own place.  And as for us that stop here,” he said, “let a wall of fire be made about us on the one side, and a wall of water on the other side.”  Then the Men of Dea put up a great heap of stones, and brought away their dead; and of all the great slaughter that Finn and his men and the sons of Midhir had made, there was not left enough for a crow to perch upon.

And as to Finn and his men, they went back into the hill, hurt and wounded and worn-out.

And they stopped in the hill with the sons of Midhir through the whole length of a year, and three times in the year the Men of Dea made an attack on the hill, and a battle was fought.

And Conn, son of Midhir, was killed in one of the battles; and as to the Fianna, there were so many wounds on them that the clothing was held off from their bodies with bent hazel sticks, and they lying in their beds, and two of them were like to die.  And Finn and Caoilte and Lugaidh’s Son went out on the green, and Caoilte said:  “It was a bad journey we made coming to this hill, to leave two of our comrades after us.”  “It is a pity for whoever will face the Fianna of Ireland,” said Lugaidh’s Son, “and he after leaving his comrades after him.”  “Whoever will go back and leave them, it will not be myself,” said Finn.  Then Bonn, son of Midhir, came to them.  “Good Donn,” said Finn, “have you knowledge of any physician that can cure our men?” “I only know one physician could do that,” said Donn; “a physician the Tuatha de Danaan have with them.  And unless a wounded man has the marrow of his back cut through, he will get relief from that physician, the way he will be sound at the end of nine days.”  “How can we bring that man here,” said Finn, “for those he is with are no good friends to us?” “He goes out every morning at break of day,” said Donn, “to gather healing herbs while the dew is on them.”  “Find some one, Donn,” said Caoilte, “that will show me that physician, and, living or dead, I will bring him with me.”