They shuffled through the narrow streets of Clones unsurprised by the actual result yesterday, if a little thrown by the yawning chasm between the scorelines.

Tyrone stamped their intentions in the Ulster turf and Fermanagh folk fled across the border wondering if their afternoon against Monaghan had been but a chimera.

From the 10th minute yesterday, it was all Tyrone. Compensating with speed and miserly attentiveness for what they might lack in physique, they simply suffocated their opponents to such a degree that it was Fermanagh who appeared to have been the team without match practice.

Fay Devlin, Paul McGurk and Ciaran Gourley initiated a tigerish sense of purpose to the defence which quickly spread throughout the lines, and although Fermanagh pushed for an equaliser - a Rory Gallagher free - after 10 minutes, their combination play descended into the realms of nightmare as Tyrone began hunting them down.

Cormac McAnallen, last year's successful minor captain, flourished at midfield alongside Gerard Cavlan and they provided the fulcrum for waves of Tyrone attacks.

Mattie McGleenan identified himself as the target man and the Tyrone attack visibly began to purr after the 15th minute.

There had been initial signs that Fermanagh had discovered the meaning of true stubbornness, with a series of half-promising attacks yielding three wides and a couple of points. Also, Paddy McGuinness doggedly broke down three balls directed at Peter Canavan and for the briefest moment we wondered if the tricky old alchemist was about to be robbed of his powers.

Instead, he simply came deep for possession, snatching a ball on the 45 after 17 minutes and skipping through a few lunges before floating a point. That moment seemed to embolden Tyrone and they quickly demonstrated that their inventiveness extends beyond Canavan's sorcery.

Adrian Cush belted over whatever frees came his way and twice scythed through the Fermanagh defence to fire marvellous points. In the final moments of the first half, Canavan held possession deep in the corner, spied McAnallen trotting from midfield and pitched a pass which was duly converted. A lead of 0-9 to 0-2 at the break and it was just like old times.

"After 10 minutes we just totally lost it in the middle of the field," said shaken Fermanagh manager Pat King, who did not ease the hurt with buttery words.

"On the face of it, this all seems like a waste of three years. We just didn't put it up to Tyrone. We were well beaten by them in 1996 and this didn't seem any better. But players are going to have to have a long hard look at themselves."

Yet his attitude alone reinforced the heightened expectations the county has adopted under his stewardship. In the coming weeks, Fermanagh may well find solace in the fact that they never crumbled despite being outplayed.

The full-back line of Paul Courtney, Paddy McGuinness and Tommy Callaghan performed with admirable backbone and Tom Brewster and Stephen Maguire made the most of whatever ball dribbled through the swarming Tyrone defence. Kieran Gallagher also mucked in bravely. But as a unit, they never ignited.

"We looked so nervous," sighed King, stripping down the truth to its rawest.

"There seemed to be a big difference in skill level. Our lads seemed to be always under pressure when in possession. We have to decide what way we want to go from here. As for myself, well, I won't make any rash decisions today."

And that was it, in essence. Fermanagh did play in flickers in the second half - Shane King and Rory Gallagher linked before sending Raymond Johnson through for a point to leave matters at 0-6 to 0-13 after 52 minutes - but Tyrone seemed content to lie within the comfort zone for the remainder of the game, with Cavlan thumping a late penalty against the post.

Afterwards, Tyrone player Eoin Gormley put a revisionist's slant on the team's recent history.

"In 1997 there was so called internal club turmoil in the county which was blown out of proportion by the media, we nearly began to believe what we were reading. And then in 1998 half our team was on the bench. We've waited 13 months to get a championship game and the quicker they come the better now."

Questions remain but Tyrone reaffirmed that they have been the most durable of the Ulster teams this decade. And Canavan still glows. Adrian Cush was asked what he thought of him.

"No need to tell ye," he returned with fixed solemnity.