Tyrone get back on track

Tyrone 1-15 Down 0-10

Down 0-10 Tyrone 1-15

The All-Ireland champions are back in business.

They rediscovered their familiar hunger and desire in the Marshes where Down were put to the sword in emphatic fashion.

A power-packed second half display from Mickey Harte's side brought the Mourne season to and end, and few will argue with Tyrone's claim to rank among the front-runners in this year's Sam Maguire Cup race.

Down's route one ploy of driving long ball into towering full forward Aidan O'Prey failed to pay off and their only scores in the opening quarter both came from frees, struck by Liam Doyle and Gregory McCartan.

Mark Harte, from a free, and Owen Mulligan, were on target for the all-Ireland champions, who were already beginning to suggest that the hunger, so sadly absent during a disappointing Ulster Championship campaign, was returning.

And in the 11th minute they struck for a goal, thanks to a reckless clearance from John Clarke, which went straight to Stephen O'Neill. The corner forward quickly transferred to the inrushing Sean Cavanagh, who neatly stepped inside an approaching defender before hitting the bottom corner of the net.

Conor Gormley was policing O'Prey successfully and Shane Sweeney was sweeping effectively, and when Harte converted another free and Cavanagh finished a flowing move involving Kevin Hughes, Philip Jordan and O'Neill, Tyrone led by 1-4 to 0-2 midway through the half.

But the Mourne men began to enjoy some success as the heavens opened, with defenders John Clarke and Martin Cole both hoisting long range scores.

The speedy Daniel Hughes made a searing run down the right wing to send O'Prey through for a fisted point, and Paddy O'Rourke's side were right back in it.

They outscored their opponents by five points to one in the second quarter, with Brian McGuigan hitting a Tyrone point, before Doyle narrowed the gap to a single point with a stoppage time free.

The Red Hands led by 1-5 to 0-7 at the break, but Benny Coulter, unusually quiet in the first half, had the sides level with in three minute of the restart, again thanks to the speed and vision of Hughes.

Michael McVeigh had to come to Down's rescue almost immediately, however, saving superbly from Mulligan, sent clear on goal by Joe McMahon's long probing pass, with sub Colm McCullagh converting the resultant '45'.

Mark Harte swept over a couple of points from play to end a 10 minute scoreless spell during which the treacherous underfoot conditions had resduced the game to a lottery.

And referee Michael Monahan, having booked nine players by this stage, showed he was prepared to make no allowances for the conditions.

Gerard Cavlan was spraying passes from everywhere, and it was his pinpoint deliveries from distance which helped Mulligan and Harte hook over the points which opened up a six points cushion.

Brian Dooher wa also back to his busy best providing the assist from which Mulligan opened up a double scores lead, 1-13 to 0-8, by the 62nd minute.

By now it was exhibition stuffl with Harte lofting his fourth score from play in the second half, and his seventh in total.

Tyrone were commanding in defence, with midfielder Kevin Hughs frequently dropping back, and while Down did hit late poins through Clarke and substitute Colm McCrickard, their championship was over long before the finish.

And they finished the game with just 14 men, defender Sean Farrell sent off for a second bookable offence.

Down: M McVeigh, M Higgins, A Molloy, A Scullion, J Clarke (0-2), M Cole (0-1), S Farrell, D Gordon, G McCartan (0-1, f), L Doyle (0-3, 2f), S Ward, R Murtagh, B Coulter (0-1), A O'Prey (0-1), D Hughes.Subs: B Grant for Scullion, Shane Ward for McCartan C McCrickard (0-1) for Shane Ward, E McCartan for O'Prey, A Fegan for Murtagh

Tyrone: P McConnell, R McMenamin, C Gormley, C Gourley, J McMahon, S Sweeney, P Jordan, K Hughes, S Cavanagh (1-1), B Dooher, B McGuigan (0-2), G Cavlan, M Harte (0-7, 3f), O Mulligan (0-3), S O'Neill. Subs: C McCullagh (0-2, 1f) for O'Neill

Referee: M Monahan (Kildare)