Kevin Hughes tries to dispossess Fermanagh's Raymond Johnston

Tyrone 4-11 1-11 Fermanagh

Magical finishing by Peter Canavan helped holders Tyrone subdue a brave Fermanagh challenge in Sunday's opening Allianz National Football League semi-final at Croke Park.

Fermanagh competed well for much of the contest but Tyrone's greater potency in attack meant that Mickey Harte's side were able to claim a comprehensive success.

The decisive period of the match came in a seven-minute period immediately after the interval when Tyrone hit 2-2 without reply.

Canavan struck first 20 seconds into the second period while Owen Mulligan's 42nd minute meant there was suddenly seven points between the teams after Fermanagh had led by the minimum at the break.

The Ernesiders made a nervous start with Tyrone hitting the opening three scores but spurred on by some fine work by Stephen Maguire and Tom Brewster, Dominic Corrigan's side fought back.

Kieran Donnelly's ninth minute score levelled the contest and the teams went point for point during the remainder of the opening period.

Tom Brewster's fourth point of the half in the 29th minute put the Ernesiders ahead for the first time at 0-6 to 0-5 and there were no further scores before the interval.

Sean Cavanagh had another impressive game for Tyrone

However Tyrone, presumably having received a few harsh words from manager Mickey Harte at the interval, were immediately out of the traps in the second half.

Canavan's goal seemed to stun Fermanagh and Mulligan's 42nd minute strike increased the Erne County pain.

Ryan Keenan's 44th minute goal gave Fermanagh a glimmer of hope but a bad miss from Tom Brewster wasted an opportunity to put a kick of the ball between the teams again.

Further Mulligan and O'Neill points increased Tyrone's lead to six and Canavan's delightful chip over Ronan Gallagher in the Fermanagh goal in the 58th minute ended any remote prospect of a fightback.

Five minutes later, Tyrone ripped apart the Fermanagh defence once more with Mulligan supplying another superb finish for the Red Hand County's fourth goal.

Fermanagh did manage to notch the final three points of the day but it only served to put a little respectability on the scoreboard.

The one negative from the game was the sight of Stephen O'Neill hobbling towards the dressing-room on crutches after the final whistle.

O'Neill got involved in some necessary off-the-ball exchanges during the match and late on was injured after a heavy challenge by Paul Brewster.

Tyrone: P McConnell, R McMenamin, C Holmes, M McGee, C Gormley, G Devlin, P Jordan, K Hughes, S Cavanagh (0-1), E McGinley, G Cavlan (0-1), S O'Neill (0-3), B Dooher (0-1), Peter Canavan (2-4), O Mulligan (2-1). Subs: S Mulgrew, D Carlin.

Fermanagh: Ronan Gallagher, R McCluskey, B Owens, M Lilly, N Cox, J Gilheaney, S McDermott, M McGrath, P Brewster (0-1), T Brewster (0-6), Raymond Gallagher, K Donnelly (0-1), R McCabe, S Maguire (0-1), R Keenan (1-0). Subs: C Bradley (0-2), R Johnston.