Tyrone’s late surge gets ref off hook after early howler

Tyrone 2-11 Down 3-8

How glad the Meath referee was that there was nothing lost or gained by the moment he called time, for in that stalemate there was redemption for one of the country’s best officials.

Played out in front of a 13,222 crowd, he challenged for the dishonour of being the stage’s biggest villain. Those in Down may nominate Donal O’Hare or Declan Rooney, such were the parts they played in Tyrone fashioning a late rally to save their hides.