Tyrone 1-17 Derry 1-12 - report

It was payback time at Casement Park as Tyrone kept their All-Ireland dream alive with a sweet victory over fierce rivals Derry.

A wonderful second half saw Derry stage a courageous, almost heroic fightback, but each time they got within touching distance of their opponents, the Red Hand were able to step up a gear and hit crucial scores.

This All-Ireland Qualifier Round Three tie did not develop into the untidy, tense war of attrition that had been widely predicted.

On the contrary, it produced some quality football from both sides, lots of superb scores, and an almost frightening level of commitment and competitiveness.

Now it's a question of whether Eamon Coleman and some of his more experienced players, such as son Gary and Anthony Tohill, feel they can go on any further.

For Tyrone, it's an exciting an encouraging step in the development of a promising young side, led by the brilliant Peter Canavan, and their All-Ireland odds shortened considerably last night in west Belfast.

Anthony Tohill hammered over an early '45', but Tyrone were ahead by the ninth minute, Canavan and Stephen O'Neill both on target from frees.

Brian McGuigan had a wonderful goal chance when sent through by Cormac McAnallen, but Michael Conlon spread himself superbly to keep out the Ardboe man's shot.

The first score from play didn't; arrive until the 15th minute, but it was worth waiting for, a vintage Canavan effort stroked effortlessly between the posts off the right boot.

Tohill hit his second score from a free, but it was Tyrone who were showing all the class, O'Neill firing another gem, before Canavan stretched the lead to three.

Derry's growing frustration was evident, referee Brian White flashing yellow cards at Gareth Doherty, Tohill and Gavin Diamond, with Tyrone's Jarlath Quinn also finding his way into the Wexford official's little book.

Canavan was on fire, showing Coleman a clean pair of heels to float over another special score, his fourth.

McAnallen, marking his switch to attack by foraging deep in defence, made a vital interception to send Brian Dooher away for a breakaway point, but in truth, all the pressure was on Derry, and they fell further behind to Gerard Cavlan's 31st minute point.

Tohill converted his second '45' and a long range free to narrow the gap as he and Doherty began to enjoy some success at midfield, helped by the deep roving Enda Muldoon.

At the break, Tyrone led by 0-8 to 0-5.

An explosive start to the second half, with Colin Holmes taking a Canavan pass to blast to the net after seven minutes.

Three minutes later Paddy Bradley darted through for a brilliant goal, and when he quickly added a spectacular long range point, Derry were right back in it, behind by just a point at 1-9 to 1-8.

Tohill and O'Neil swapped free kicks as the tension mounted to almost unbearable levels.

Substitute Dermot Heaney fired over the equalising point, and now it was Derry who called the shots.

For All-Star Stephen O'Neill now was the time to deliver after a disappointing campaign to date, and he hauled the Red Hands back into it, hitting a point and winning the free from which Canavan edged the outgoing Ulster champions two points clear.

As play swung from end to end, Bradley was denied a second goal by substitute 'keeper Peter Ward, in for the injured John Devine, and Tohill duly slammed the resultant '45' sweetly between the posts.

His sixth placed ball score provoked another score from O'Neill at the other end, Tyrone intent on defending a fluctuating but slender lead.

Dooher increased the advantage to a relatively comfortable three, O'Neill made it four with a long range free, with just a minute of normal time to play, fittingly it was Canavan who finished it off with his seventh score, another beauty.

Tyrone scorers: C Holmes 1-0, P Canavan 0-7 (3f), S O'Neill 0-7 (4f), B Dooher 0-2, G Cavlan 0-1.

Derry scorers: P Bradley 1-3, A Tohill 0-7 (7f), Fergal Doherty, G McGonigle 0-1 each.

Attendance 12,000