Tyrone fire out warning as Tribesmen trounced

Tyrone 1-16 Galway 0-11

Tyrone blasted out the message that everyone, many in dread, most in expectation, had been waiting for.

The All-Ireland champions are back in the fast lane, heading for the business end of the championship, following several months of uncertainty and a few weeks of soul-searching.

A comprehensive qualifiers win over Galway at Croke Park confirmed that all is well in the Red Hand camp, and they will have a big say in the destination of the Sam Maguire Cup.

And to cap a sweet afternoon for the holders, they welcomed back their talisman Peter Canavan for his first appearance in 10 months.

Canavan marked the occasion with a vintage point from his first touch and Tyrone supporters will gladly forgive his missed goal chance as they look forward to the fourth round draw.

Tyrone, already fielding without five of the players who started last year's All-Ireland final, were dealt a further blow when top scorer Mark Harte failed a late fitness test on a thigh strain.

And Galway's early promise brought them scores from Derek Savage, John Devane and Michael Donnellan, but once Tyrone started to show some fluency and penetration, they threatened to get goals.

First Sean Cavanagh brought a superb save from new goalkeeper Brian O'Donoghue, who dived to his right to keep out the midfielder's low shot.

And in the 12th minute they did hit the net, a beautifully crafted goal, and an equally polished finish from Brian McGuigan.

The move ws started deep by Michael Coleman, a late replacement for Harte, and played through Mulligan and O'Neill, who found McGuigan thundering through the middle, and the Ardboe man gave O'Donoghue no chance with a stinging shot just inside the post.

That score gave the All-Ireland champions a two point lead, and when Owen Mulligan danced around two markers to clip over a delightful point, they led by 1-4 to 0-4 midway through the half.

Gary Fahy succeeded in curbing the threat of blond bomber Mulligan, however, and with John Devane dropping back to help out in defence, Galway succeeded in stemming Tyrone's flow.

Donnelly and Padraig Joyce both steered over frees, and now it was the Tribesmen's turn to craft chances.

Matthew Clancy somehow managed to poke wide from point blank range after Ryan McMenamin had lost his footing at a crucial moment, and in the 26th minute, referee Michael Monahan awarded a penalty after Joyce had been hauled down by Conor Gormley.

But Savage's tamely struck kick was easily saved by Pascal McConnell, who in any case could perhaps have allowed it to dribble wide of his left hand post.

The Red Hands countered instantly for Sean Cavanagh to cut inside and fist a point, and it was Tyrone who led by 1-5 to 0-6 at the break.

Lively target man Mulligan was always a handful for Fahy, and tagged on two more points, one from a free, early in the second half to stretch the advantage to four, but another goal chance went a-begging when O'Neill blasted wide.

Moments later Joyce robbed a defender and curled the ball past Pascal McConnell, but it came back off the base of a post.

The sight of 6 ft 6 inch midfielder Sean Ó Domhnaill thundering through to power over a point warmed the hearts of Galway supporters in the 28,712-strong crowd.

And when Joyce curled over his first score from play, fourth in all, just a point separated the sides as the game slipped into its final quarter.

But Tyrone had their own supporters in full voice with the introduction of Peter Canavan in the 53rd minute for his first appearance since last year's All-Ireland final.

The All Star full forward had them in raptures with a superb point with his first touch.

Now it was all going so sweetly for the champions, their spiritual leader back in the fold, and points flowed from the boots of Cavanagh, O'Neill and Brian Dooher as they opened out a 1-12 to 0-9 lead.

Defenders Shane Sweeney and Philip Jordan also got in on the scoring act, and soon the margin had grown to eight.

Galway's challenge fizzled out, they went almost 20 minutes without a score, and Tyrone had their place booked in today's fourth round draw long before the finish.

Tyrone: P McConnell, R McMenamin, C Gormley, C Gourley, J McMahon, S Sweeney (0-1), P Jordan (0-1), K Hughes, S Cavanagh (0-3), B Dooher (0-1), B McGuigan (1-0), G Cavlan, M Coleman, O Mulligan (0-5, 2f), S O'Neill (0-4, 2f).

Subs: P Canavan (0-1) for Coleman, L Meenan for Mulligan, B Collins for Dooher.

Galway: B O'Donoghue, K Fitzgerald, G Fahey, T Meehan, D Meehan, P Clancy, D Burke, J Bergin, S O Domhnaill (0-1), M Clancy, M Donnellan (0-2, 1f), J Devane (0-1), M Meehan, P Joyce (0-4, 3f), D Savage (0-1).

Subs: T Joyce for M Clancy, N Meehan (0-1) for M Meehan, N Joyce for Savage, D Mullahy for O Domhnaill.

Referee: M Monahan (Kildare).