Red Hand put down marker

Tyrone 3-15 Laois 2-4

It was by no means a stroll in the park for the All-Ireland champions, but the plain truth is that Laois were seriously handicapped, mentally and physically, from their exertions in the Leinster final games with Westmeath over the past two weekends. And to really cap off their misery, top forward Beano McDonald was stretchered off late in the game.

Outstanding defender Joe Higgins was one of several players who couldn't line out yesterday, while Darren Rooney and Tom Kelly played in the half-back line in spite of respective thumb and finger fractures. Yet, nothing was as discouraging as the freak accident which forced McDonald off in the 63rd minute after suffering a compound fracture of his right ankle.

Tyrone were clearly facilitated in this latest attempt by Laois' misfortune. It still took a big effort from them to mount the type of strong and largely consistent challenge that they managed over the 70-plus minutes - but this time there was no need to bring inPeter Canavan.

It was given a major impetus initially by the wind advantage they enjoyed and the significant boost of an Eoin Mulligan goal after less than four minutes. Indicative of the difficulties Laois encountered in trying to get their challenge off the ground was the fact that an opening point from full-forward Shane Cooke in the second minute proved to be their only score of the half. And while they were to show admirable courage early in the second half, it was notable that each of their goals were the result of defenders turning the ball into their own net.

The early promise shown by Mulligan was fulfilled, in the sense that he always looked dangerous at full-forward. And the burden was only shared after Mark Harte settled down to play a very intelligent game, Stephen O'Neill improved in his finishing and Brian McGuigan put in a huge effort after finding it hard at the start to make progress against Tom Kelly. Most important of all, though, was the dominance of midfielders Kevin Hughes - in a largely defensive role - and Seán Cavanagh who nearly always looked menacing when he drove forward.

All things considered, including the fact that Ross Munnelly was clearly unfit (and was replaced during the interval), it was understandable that the Laois forwards should struggle so much. But Munnelly, McDonald and Colm Parkinson put in a commendable effort and deserved a better return. Paul Lawlor and selected midfielder Padraig Clancy were used in a two-man full-forward line, but the service to them was negligible and wasn't helped by the fact that Tyrone's support play all over the defence severely limited them. With Harte scoring the first of two goals in the 30th minute (his rising shot being deflected past the keeper by the full-back), Tyrone went in at half-time leading 2-8 to 0-1.

After 18 minutes of the second half the scoreboard looked a much more respectable 2-9 to 2-3 for Laois. McDonald scored the first after only two minutes, when a shot that seemed to be going wide was put into his own net by corner-back Michael McGee. The other, from converted centre-forward Kevin Fitzpatrick in the 53rd minute, was similarly deflected by Ryan McMenamin.

For a brief period, there seemed the possibility of a Laois recovery, with Tom Kelly again more involved and Parkinson putting in a huge effort. But Tyrone sensed the danger and put in a renewed effort which produced a string of points and a well-worked goal from Harte in the last ten minutes. That was after McDonald had left the field in agony. One sensed that the inevitable loss of the game for O'Dwyer, his players and their supporters seemed less important because of it.

*Michael Collins' refereeing was well up to his usual high standard.

Scorers: Tyrone: M. Harte 2-3 (0-3 frees); E. Mulligan 1-3 (0-1 free); S. Kavanagh and S. O'Neill 0-3 each; B. McGuigan 0-2; B. Dooher 0-1. Laois: B. McDonald 1-1 (0-1 free); S. Fitzpatrick 1-0; S. Cooke 0-2 (0-1 free); D. Millar 0-1.

TYRONE: P. McConnell; R. McMenamin, C. Gormley, M. McGee; J. McMahon, S. Sweeney, P. Jordan; K. Hughes, S. Cavanagh; B. Dooher (capt.), B. McGuigan, G. Cavlan; M. Harte, E. Mulligan, S. O'Neill. Subs: C. Gourley for McMahon (injured, 16th minute); B. Collins for Mulligan (injured, 39th); D. Carlin for McMenamin and C. Lawn for Sweeney (68th).

LAOIS: F. Byron; A. Fennelly, C. Ryan, P. McDonald; D. Rooney, T. Kelly, P. McMahon; P. Clancy, N. Garvan; R. Munnelly, K. Fitzpatrick, C. Parkinson; P. Lawlor, S. Cooke, B. McDonald. Subs: D. Millar for Lawlor and G. Kavanagh for Munnelly (second half); C. Bergin for McDonald (injured, 62nd minute); P. Conway for Ryan (70th).

Referee: M. Collins (Cork).

*Attendance: 63,069.