Ulster SFC Quarter-final/Tyrone 1-13 Fermanagh 0-12: The day when Fermanagh eventually extract themselves from that minority of four counties yet to win a provincial senior football title cannot be too far away following their brave if unavailing attempt to outmanoeuvre the All-Ireland champions, Tyrone, in Clones yesterday.
Charlie Mulgrew's well-drilled and fearless side were found wanting only in the vital area of experience as they put the champions on the rack and even led by two points early in the second half.
It was a heartwarming display of defiance, courage and precision football - if spoiled on occasion by mistakes born of immaturity that Tyrone gladly exploited.
The lie was given to all pre-match predictions of a decisive win for the champions. It may have seemed likely to turn out that way when Mark Harte sent Niall Tinney the wrong way with a daisy-cutter penalty in the fifth minute to give Tyrone a four-point lead.
However, even at this early stage the Fermanagh defence were proving a big stumbling block to Tyrone's best probes, which were generally ignited by the roving and tireless Owen Mulligan.
There were many in the crowd of 17,344 who disagreed with the decision by Séamus McCormack of Meath to award that spot kick after Seán Cavanagh was deemed to have been grounded in trying to get to grips with a Brian McGuigan lob.
The referee was later to experience a heavy knock himself when flattened in an accidental collision with Tyrone's Gerald Cavlan. Although shaken he opted to continue.
Some 15 minutes into the second half the Meath official sent off Brian McGuigan of Tyrone and Fermanagh corner back Hugh Brady.
If experience won the day for Tyrone the relentless efforts of Mulligan were also a major factor.
He seemed prepared to cover every inch of the pitch and kicked five points, including two vital pointed frees within a minute in the third quarter to wipe out Fermanagh's two-point lead and put Tyrone ahead 1-7 to 0-9 - a lead they never relinquished.
Those two Mulligan points sandwiched between points by Cavanagh and Kevin Hughes meant Tyrone kicked four points in a golden five-minute spell early in the second half.
Fermanagh had heroes all over the park, not least Raymond Johnston, Damian Kelly, Martin McGrath, Eamonn Maguire and their big full forward Stephen Maguire. Mark Little was also inspirational.
"What a real footballer Mark Little is," was the post-match comment by Mulgrew.
After the sides were level at half-time, 1-4 to 0-7, Tyrone introduced Cavlan for Colm McCullough and switched their other midfielder, Cavanagh, into attack in a swop with Hughes, who turned out to be something of a match-winner.
Tyrone's new captain, Ryan McMenamin, was truly inspirational at the back and frequently linked with his forwards on the right flank.
Mulgrew was so disappointed that he admitted he could take little real satisfaction from the day's work.
"We came here to win the match but it was not enough," he said.
"This Fermanagh team, which was shamefully treated by media nonsense, can perform even better than they looked today."
Mulgrew was saddened by the way "little things" did not go right for his team.
"There were a few small things that happened that denied us, like the time we were two points up in the second half and there was a free, wrongly in my opinion, awarded against us, when we were about to stretch that lead.
"We know what we are about and the six players, young lads all, who were brought into the match for their first championship baptism will have learned much from this experience. We are keen even at this very minute to lift ourselves and move forward."
Mickey Harte, the Tyrone manager, said his side were always likely to find it difficult against a team everyone seemed to underestimate.
"They were hungry and certainly earned my respect," said Harte. "They were brave and very impressive and if they had nothing to lose they played like that."
Tyrone now progress to meet Donegal in the Ulster semi-final while Fermanagh will meet Tipperary in the qualifiers.
TYRONE: J Devine; R McMenamin, C Gormley, C Gourley (0-1); J McMahon, G Devlin, P Jordan; C Holmes, S Cavanagh (0-1); E Mulligan (0-5, three frees), B McGuigan (0-1), S O'Neill (0-1); M Harte (1-2, pen and one free), K Hughes (0-2), C McCullagh. Subs: G Cavlan for McCullough (h-t), M Coleman for Holmes (62 mins).
FERMANAGH: N Tinney; N Bogue, B Owens, H Brady; R Johnston, S McDermott, D Kelly (0-1); M McGrath 0-2), L McBarran; E Maguire (0-1, free), J Sherry (0-2), M Little (0-1); C O'Reilly, S Maguire, (0-5, four frees), C Bradley. Subs: P Sherry for Owens (34 mins), D McGrath for Bradley (70 mins), M Murphy for O'Reilly (46 mins).
Referee: S McCormack (Meath).
