CHAMPIONSHIP 2002: Barry Duffy is beaming. First day of hitting the big time. Twice he touched the ball, first slipping a hand pass to Oisín McConville and then sinking Tyrone when the Crossmaglen man returned the favour.

Ever had a football moment quite like it? "No," grins the big Killeavy man.

"Maybe scored a point a few years ago but to hit a goal in a big championship game is a great feeling. Oisín just gave me the pass and thank God, it went in."

Kieran McGeeney has experienced more of these Clones days than he can remember.

"I felt we played quite well. It was a very tough game. We took some criticism last week for being very defensive but you know, when boys like Canavan and Stephen O'Neill are running at you, what are you meant to do but defend?

"Like, you can hardly attack. We scored what, 2-13 today? That's not bad. But you have to put this in context, it's the first round. And we were quite subdued in there afterwards to be honest."

The innocent magic of 1999, when every win was greeted with delirium has left Armagh, which is probably a good thing. Tyrone's bittersweet experience last year won't be lost on them and Eugene McKenna had a word of caution before he left for the random world of the qualifiers.

"Armagh played very well but I suppose we have to remember this is only a first round, there is a long way to go. And I don't think that winning in Ulster is necessarily the be all and end all any more.

"But we didn't want to be in the qualifiers. Yet we have to accept that we are. It gives us time to put correct a number of aspects to our game that need correcting. So we will look at what happened to Galway last year. We certainly won't complain if we end up like them."

That is a thought for the far distance. There are likely to be a few twists before then.

As McGeeney remarked with a grimace, "There is an awful long way to go. Tyrone missed Peter Canavan out there today and they will be a match for many teams."

"In fact, I have a sneaking suspicion that we may meet Peter and company again before too long."

If that prophesy is correct, the championship will be the richer for it.