Red Hands shake, rattle and roll over Laois

Tyrone 0-21 Laois 1-8

Tyrone may have temporarily lost their way after virtually monopolising the opening 20 minutes but, once they re-imposed their grip on the game early in the second half, they were never going to be caught.

Mick O'Dwyer's team was outclassed, but by no means disgraced after a contest which lacked the cut and thrust of the Division 2 decider earlier. With Tyrone succeeding with much the same ease as they won their first title in Clones last year, it was a noteworthy achievement for new manager Mickey Harte and, for inspirational captain Peter Canavan.

Tyrone enjoyed much more possession overall and combined much more effectively as a unit. Typically, Canavan kicked two opening points inside seven minutes and even gave promise of a goal until he over-played the ball and was dispossessed.

The main problem for Laois was that they were under a lot of pressure in defence. Eoin Mulligan was a constant threat in the left corner, Enda McGinley was playing cleverly on the other side and Stephen O'Neill did best of the half-forwards, until Brian Dooher settled to make a vital contribution all through. Midfield went Tyrone's way with the recalled Cormac McAnallen doing well on semi-final star Padraig Clancy and Sean Cavanagh much more forceful against Noel Garvan.

Up front, Laois found it very hard to penetrate at half-forward until team captain Ian Fitzgerald started to win ball and Colm Parkinson was more involved. Fitzgerald gave the challengers a badly needed boost with an opportunist 21st minute goal, when he rose unchallenged in the square to finish Damien Delaney's 50 to the net. That cut Tyrone's lead to a mere three points, before they rallied to stretch it to five in another six minutes.

Laois were making more progress in attack, but they were unable to create the space to take more scores, until in the last few minutes before the break. In between, Stephen O'Neill should have done better from a goal opportunity which was kept out by keeper Fergal Byron, while, at the other end, Parkinson promised a goal from a strong run in from the left until he was up-ended outside the small square. The third of three late scores, a marvellous kick from Delaney after an opening made by impressive wing-back Darren Rooney saw Tyrone go in at half-time 0-10 to 1-4 in front.

It was a lead that Micky Harte could hardly have been pleased with, considering Tyrone's amount of possession, and it was hardly surprising that they were late coming out for the second half.

In less than a minute, substitute Ross Munnelly got a point back for Laois, but they were to wait 15 minutes for their next score. Clancy was bettering McAnallen and Laois looked competitive for a while, but two pointed frees by Canavan in the 37th and 44th minutes gave them a psychological lift when they needed it to re-assert their authority. Dooher, true to style, beavered away out around midfield and was hugely influential, Gerard Cavlan made a big impression as a roving corner-forward after his introduction, and the twin threat of Canavan and Mulligan was complemented by the work of O'Neill, midfielder Sean Cavanagh and the half-back line.

Dooher, in the 48th minute, wasted a goal chance before Byron deprived him with a good save in the 65th.

At the end, Tyrone's 21 scores to nine for Laois told it all.

*Michael Collins refereed up to the standard that people have come to expect, being firm and authoritative and always in control.

Furthermore, the vigilance of one of his umpires alerted him to the only regrettable incident which involved the Tyrone centre-back late in the first half.

Scorers: Tyrone P. Canavan 0-6 (0-4 frees); S. O'Neill 0-4 (0-1 free); E. Mulligan 0-3 (0-1 free); S. Cavlan 0-3 (0-1 free); E. McGinley (free), B. McGuigan, C. McAnallen, S. Cavanagh and R. Mellon 0-1 each.

Laois: I. Fitzgerald 1-1 (0-1 free); D. Delaney 0-2 (0-1 free); C. Conway 0-2 (0-1 free); D. Sweeney, R. Munnelly and C. Parkinson 0-1 each.

TYRONE: J. Devine; R. McMenamin, C. Holmes, M. McGee; C. Gormley, G. Devlin, P. Jordan; C. McAnallen, S. Cavanagh; B. Dooher, B. McGuigan, S. O'Neill; E. McGinley, P. Canavan (capt.), E. Mulligan. Subs: G. Cavlan for McGinley (41st minute); R. Mellon for McGuigan (58th); C. Lawn for McMenamin (63rd); D. McCrossan for Gormley (67th).

LAOIS: F. Byron; J. Higgins, T. Kelly, C. Byrne; D. Rooney, K. Fitzpatrick, D. Conroy; P. Clancy, N. Garvan; C. Parkinson, I. Fitzgerald (capt.), M. Lawlor; B. McDonald, D. Delaney, S. Kelly. Subs: J.P. Keogh for Lawlor (second half); C. Conway for Delaney (45th); D. Miller for Garvan and D. Sweeney for Kelly (51st); A. Fennelly for Fitzgerald (64th).

Referee: M. Collins (Cork).

*Attendance: 30,293.