TYRONE...................................1-11

FERMANAGH........................... 2-7

This Ulster senior hurling championship preliminary round at Emmet Park, Lisnaskea went to the wire, with Fermanagh's 17-year old corner forward, Sean Corrigan marking his debut with a goal at the death, with just a minute of added on time left.

However, Tyrone, who had played the entire second-half a man short, and had led by 1-5 to 1-5 at the break, got scores at the vital moments, the last, a David Lavery point shortly before Corrigan's goal. However, Fermanagh had other chances, the best falling to Ollie McShea four minutes from the end.

It followed a neat build-up that involved John Duffy and Corrigan who laid on the final pass for McShea. He took aim at point-blank range, but his shot struck the ground first and the danger was cleared.

To their credit, Tyrone had key men in defence, none more so than half-back, Shay McKiver and their goalkeeper, Niall Gallagher. He saved Karl Kehoe's fiercely-struck 16th minute penalty, and, after Corrigan's late goal that left a point between the sides, he was called into action three times as Fermanagh piled on the pressure.

Fermanagh manager, Tom Walsh described it as, 'the one that got away', referring to a couple of goal chances near the end, McShea's, and a second which saw the ball in the net but the referee had blown up the scorer, Dermot Curran for an infringement in the square.

However, the manager did take heart from the Fermanagh display: "I have told these boys all along they are not a bad side.

"They had one bad day this year in the League and, today, they redeemed themselves in more ways than one.

"Like, they never stopped, they kept at it and at it when a lesser team would have given up, but these boys are good lads.

"I have told them they are more than capable of going well in the Nicky Rackard. It as just the rub of the green did not go with us today".

Fermanagh started badly. A Tyrone goal in the 2nd minute from John Kerr together with that penalty stop kept Tyrone in touch after Fermanagh's 11th minute goal from Andrew Breslin from a neat Sean Corrigan pass. Fermanagh, who had twice drawn level, in the 17th and 29th minutes with points from Ryan Bogue and Jason McManus repesctively, trailed by a point at the break (1-4 to 1-5).

Just before that, McManus, sustained a facial injury from a hurl, for which Tyrone defender Leigh Moore got a second yellow. Typically, he returned for the fray for the second-half, but it was Tyrone who had the early scores, from Paddy Devine and Conor Gallagher who went on to be an influential figure for Tyrone.

For this half, Ryan Bogue was moved back to partner Mark Slevin at midfield, releasing off-colour Barry Smyth for other duties, one of which was alternating with Jason McManus as the spare man. Fermanagh showed fierce commitment, however.

Defenders, McGarry and debut boy, Francie McBrien were inspirational but, up front, Bogue and Sean Corigan apart, they had difficulty breaching the Tyrone rearguard. And, for once, the substitutions made little difference.

Yet, the game was there to be won, but silly frees conceded and a failure to find the target at the other end cost Fermanagh dearly.

FERMANAGH

Peter McEvoy; Michael Beggan, Declan McGarry, Malachy Gunn; David Slevin, Jason McManus (0-2, frees), Francie McBrien; Mark Slevin and Barry Smyth; Andrew Breslin, Karl Kehoe, Ryan Bogue (0-5, frees); Ollie McShea, Franz Hoeritzauer, Sean Corrigan (1-0). Subs - Colm Rice for Gunn, 9 mins; John Duffy for D. Slevin, halftime; Dermot Curran for Hoeritzauer, 53 mins; Fergus Bannon for Breslin, 62 mins.

TYRONE

Niall Gallagher; Mark Winters, Mark McElroy, Sean Paul Begley; Shay McKiver, Stephen Donnelly, Leigh Moore; Noel Hurson, capt and Conor Gallagher (0-3, frees; David Lavery (0-2, frees), Peader McMahon (0-3, frees), Cormac McHugh; John Devlin, John Kerr( 1-0), Paddy Devine (0-2). Subs - Martin Grogan for Kerr, 53 mins; John Connolly for McKiver, inj 64 mins; Niall McDermott for McHugh, 67 mins; Seamie O'Hagan for Devlin 70 mins.

Referee - Brendan Sweeney (Cavan).