GAA: Victory keeps Tyrone at the top of table

Tyrone 1-11 Offaly 1-4

Tyrone still top the Divison 1A table following a convincing seven points win over Offaly at Tullamore.

A goal and five points from Peter Canavan, who also missed a penalty, made a huge contribution to this victory, as did a powerhouse midfield display from Cormac McAnallen.

Tyrone went four points up inside the opening 10 minutes, Peter Canavan (2), Cormac McAnallen and Stephen O'Neill all finding the target.

But the Ulster chamopions were rocked in the 13th minute by a brilliant Vinny Claffey goal.

The 36-year-old slipped in behind Colin Holmes to take a long delivery from Basil Malone and blast a superb shot to the roof of the net from 10 yards.

And Tyrone's injury jinx struck again when Ryan McMenamin had to go off after just 16 minutes, but points from Canavan and a superb long range Gerard Cavlan effort kept their noses in front..

Owen Mulligan announced his arrival as a sub in spectacular style with a fine score with his very first touch, but Offaly kept themselves very much in contention with two converted frees by Donie Ryan.

Tyrone, after playing with the assistance of a strong wind, had just a two points lead to show for their efforts, having kicked seven wides to Offaly's zero count.

The visitors led by 0-8 to 1-2 at the break, but there was high drama inside the opening minute of the seocnd half when they were awarded a penalty for Ger Rafferty's foul on Stephen O'Neill,

Peter Canavan's kick was saved by Padraig Kelly, and almost immediately, Claffey cut the deficit to two points with a brilliantly-taken score.

Owen Mulligan's introduction had freshened up the Tyrone attack, but the Offaly defence, in particular Cahal Daly, gave their opponents little time on the ball.

Tyrone were also miserly in defence, restricting their opponents to just two points throughout the entire seocnd half, and it all started to go wrong for Offaly 10 minutes from the end when Claffey was sent off for the first time in his 15-year inter-county career following a clash with Brian Dooher.

At that stage they were trailing by four points, but almost immediately Owen Mulligan hit a Tyrone point and Gerard Cavlan sent Canavan through for a goal neatly finished to the bottom corner beyond the despairing reach of goalkeeper Kelly.

Offaly: P Kelly, K Slattery, C Daly, B Mooney, J Hurst (0-1), G Rafferty, J Kenny, J Grennan, A McNamee, D Ryan (0-2), J Greene, B Malone, D Claffey, V Claffey (1-1), P Kelleghan. Subs: C Quinn for Malone, J O'Neill for Greene, S Grennan for Ryan, F McEvoy for Kellegher, C Brennan for D Claffey.

Tyrone: P Ward, C Gormley, C Holmes, B Robinson, R McMenamin, C Gourley, C Meenagh, C McAnallen (0-1), J Gormley, B Dooher, S O'Neill (0-2), G Cavlan (0-1), E McGinley, K Hughes, P Canavan (1-5). Subs: P Jordan for McMenamin, O Mulligan (0-2) for McGinley, S Kavanagh for Gormley, McGinley for O'Neill.

Referee: A Mangan (Kerry)