BYMICHAELBRESLIN

There was exhilaration and grief in equal measure at Emmet Park, Lisnaskea after last Sunday's one-point Ulster senior hurling championship win by Tyrone over Fermanagh. It was a fine, open game, with some five-star displays, fine scores and, especially at the death, high drama. Tyrone now meet London at home in the first round proper.

Both sides were affected by injuries, and Fermanagh gave debuts to two promising minors, Francie McBrien (Lisnaskea) in the half-back line, and Sean Corrigan (Lisbellaw) at corner-forward. He provided the pass for Fermanagh's 11th minute goal and scored the second himself a minute from the end of time added on at the finish to leave a point between the teams.

Sean led off a sample of post-match reaction.

Sean Corrigan - 'Happy with my own performance but you can't really be happy when you lose by a point. I thought we had it. We were good enough to win it, but the break of the ball did not come our way'.

Jason McManus (acting captain) - It's sickening to be beaten by a point at any time, but even worse when you are beaten by Tyrone by a point. We gave away a couple of very silly frees which let them back into the game when we were in the ascendancy, and we didn't take our chances either. But, we'll give the Nicky Rackard a crack anyway. I would be very disappointed if we don't have a fairly good run in it. The one thing I would like to add is a mention of our younger players, the likes of Francie McBrien, Sean Corrigan, John Duffy and Ryan Bogue. They all have great engines. They're the future, so good luck to them next year'.

Noel Hurson (Tyrone captain) - 'We ground out a result. After the sending-off, the boys realised at halftime they were a man down and they went out and gave Fermanagh a championship. It was definitely the hardest game Tyrone have played all year. It was hard-hitting and it sort of by-passed a lot of players, definitely it was the top game this year. Fermanagh are a good side. Like ourselves, it takes a lot to keep the game going but, hopefully, they will keep it going and they will be back again'.

Kevin Naughton (Tyrone manager) - We knew it was going to be really tough in the second-half, and that's how it turned out. I can tell you I would have been quite glad going down the road, with the training we did, to take away a one-point win. We knew before we came down it was going to be a battle. But, I thought the boys were brilliant after the man was sent off.

Tom Walsh (Fermanagh manager) - I am very disappointed for the boys. What else can you say? Yes, definitely, there's a lot of potential. We're looking forward to the Nicky Rackard. We'll get back to training on Friday night and we'll plan for the Nicky Rackard. I have told these boys all along they are not a bad side. They had one bad day this year and, today, they redeemed themselves in more ways than one. Like, they never stopped, they kept at it and at it, and a lesser team would have given up but these boys are good lads and I have told them they are more than capable of going well in the Nicky Rackard. Today, the rub of the green didn't come to us'.