Ten years on, Canavan makes his point count

Armagh 1-12 Tyrone 1-13

Joe Kernan's team suffered the sucker-punch of a controversial free expertly converted by Peter Canavan in the 72nd minute, shattering their dreams of a place in the All-Ireland football final with Kerry. For Tyrone hero Canavan, there was the delicious irony of the free being awarded by Tipperary referee Paddy Russell, who ten years ago in the final against Dublin disallowed the injury-time 'point' created by Canavan which denied Tyrone a draw.

Arguably the most intriguing semi-final of recent years, it was played at punishing pace all through, was every bit as close as predicted and, happily, was free of rancour. With the outcome as uncertain nearing the finish as it had been all week, it took a bit of Canavan magic to decide it with a superb kick from about 40 yards out on the left flank. Considering his unsatisfactory season so far and his 1995 history with Russell, it was the ultimate redemption for him and his manager.

It wasn't the only talking point afterward, with Armagh's inspirational captain Kieran McGeeney withdrawn ten minutes before the end, when the game was balanced on a knife edge.

Perhaps the most remarkable feature of Tyrone's win was that after only eight day's rest after the replay with Dublin, they were as fresh and competitive over the last twenty minutes as they were in the opening quarter. During this period what impressed was the excellence of their defensive play, with Joe McMahon at full-back denying Ronan Clarke the freedom he only gained late in the game. It meant that after opening a 0-3 to 0-1 lead by the 11th minute, they were able to stay in front and not fall behind until 13 minutes from the end.

Overall, Tyrone's combination play, to which team captain Brian Dooher made a huge contribution, proved more effective. Owen Mulligan benefited from good possession and caused a lot of problems for Francie Bellew, whereas Steven McDonnell was seeing little enough of the ball at the other end. On the other hand, Stephen O'Neill was rarely involved.

Inevitably, Armagh came back strongly, tightening up at the back, with Bellew much more comfortable and Kieran McGeeney influential in the centre. Once they started to take over at midfield, their forward play was much more purposeful, while Tyrone paid for losing hard-won possession through sloppy passing.

Nevertheless, Tyrone's defensive strength sustained them through some difficult periods after scores were level in the 22nd and 33rd minutes, and in injury time O'Neill brilliantly converted a penalty which had Tyrone ahead 1-4 to 0-5 at half-time.

Clearly, it was going to take a supreme effort to gain the ascendancy but, as an indication of how evenly matched these two teams are, neither of them was to achieve that.

Mulligan promised a goal immediately after the resumption but failed to finish off a Ryan Mellon move and while Armagh hit a purple patch to be level again (1-5 to 0-8) within twelve minutes, they failed to build on that momentum.

Five minutes later, the initiative was back with Tyrone after they had forged a three-point lead, the third of the scores coming from Canavan, introduced at the start of the second half.

McDonnell was to rescue them with a well-taken goal in the 59th minute which meant Armagh were in front for the first time in the game and looking good after once more gaining the upper hand around the middle of the field.

That advantage was to gain them a two-point lead entering the last five minutes of injury time and it was beginning to look ominous for Micky Harte's team until a revitalised Sean Cavanagh went through for a vital score and, following two missed chances, substitute Shane Sweeney was set up by Canavan for an equalising score.

It was still anybody's game, but Armagh missed McGeeney when the need was greatest and he himself was clearly frustrated to be on the sideline as both sides went flat out for a winning score.

For a while it looked like the teams would be coming back to Croke Park next Saturday for a fourth meeting, until the referee awarded Tyrone a free in the first minute of injury time.

Some time elapsed before it was decided that Canavan should take it, with a smiling Mulligan handing him the ball (and the responsibility). Once more giving the type of leadership he has always been noted for, the 2003 captain made no mistake with a perfectly judged kick. It sailed between the posts and with it went Armagh aspirations of a second title.

Now it's a question of whether Tyrone have a better chance of toppling the champions than Kernan's team might have had.

*Paddy Russell gave about a half-dozen questionable calls on both sides but he laid down the law from the start, and asserted his control.

Scorers for Tyrone: S. O'Neill 1-4 (1-3 frees); O. Mulligan 0-3 (0-2 frees); S. Cavanagh and P. Canavan (0-1 free), 0-2 each; R. McMenamin and S. Sweeney 0-1 each.

Scorers for Armagh: S. McDonald 1-3; O. McConville 0-3 frees; A. Kernan 0-2 frees; B. Mallon, K. McGeeney, J. McEntee and R. Clarke 0-1 each.

TYRONE: P. McConnell; R. McMenamin, J. McMahon, M. McGee; D. Harte, C. Gormley, P. Jordan; B. Meenan, S. Cavanagh; B. Dooher (capt.), B. McGuigan, E. McGinley; R. Mellon, O. Mulligan, S. O'Neill.

Subs: P. Canavan for McGinley (second half, injured); C. Holmes for Meenan (43rd minute); C. Lawn for Jordan (64th); S. Sweeney for Harte (66th).

ARMAGH: P. Hearty; A. Mallon, F. Bellew, C. McKeever; A. Kernan, K. McGeeney (capt.), A. O'Rourke; P. Loughran, P. McGrane; P. McKeever, B. Mallon, M. O'Rourke; S. McDonnell, R. Clarke, O. McConville.

Subs: T. McEntee for Loughran (34th); J. McEntee for Mallon (second half); E. McNulty for McGeeney (63rd); A. McCann for A. O'Rourke (71st).

Referee: P. Russell (Tipperary).

*Attendance: 65,858.