Few managers can beat Mickey Harte for thoughtful and articulate words in the aftermath of a hectic championship match.

"We always said it's never easy to win Ulster championship games, never mind the title," he said. "That proved so out there today. We had to work extremely hard, come through some difficult patches, and we were definitely on the back foot at times. But all told I'm happy with the overall performance.

"The last time we won a championship match was the All-Ireland final of 2005 (though they did beat Louth last year in the qualifiers), so this was like a long time waiting, really."

In other words, Tyrone didn't play well and Harte was relieved.

"There is still great desire to fight in a Tyrone jersey," he added, "and I know that's been questioned a little in recent times. Today doesn't answer everything, but I certainly liked the way they responded, kept chipping away at the points.

"It wasn't easy out there. Fermanagh are a good side, prepared well, and very nearly pulled it off out there today.

"We're happy to be progressing, and we plan to stay in this championship as long as possible."

He has much to work on. Losing that three-point lead? Hitting 13 wides?

"When you get a roll and don't capitalise you're always leaving yourself open to the counterattack. So Fermanagh had their chance to win. I wouldn't say our inexperienced players weren't effective. In fact they acquitted themselves very well.

"Of course you can't always afford to be as wasteful as 15 wides. We'll take a look at that and see, but I'd rather that we're generating scoring chances and missing them rather than not creating them at all."

As for Charlie Mulgrew, few managers can look more down-and-out in defeat. He did not hide his disgust at the nature of Fermanagh's loss.

"We're disappointed, sure," he said, "but then Tyrone had the wherewithal to go and win the game, and we didn't. Those last five minutes were about coolness. Tyrone showed that and we didn't. We also missed a few goal chances in the first half, but sure it's the second half where games are won and lost.

"But I'm still proud of these lads. We made a promise to ourselves that we'd play until the end, and they did that. It could have gone any way in the end, and we came out the wrong end."

Fermanagh are not out again until July 7th in the qualifiers.

Ger Cavlan, meanwhile, was the picture of coolness not long after posting the winning free: "I narrowly missed one a few minutes beforehand but managed to get the wind right for it. Just glad we got the chance, and we're reasonably happy. But we have a lot more to work on."