Tyrone dig deep to defeat Cork

Tyrone 1-12 Cork 0-13

Tyrone were forced to dig deep to protect their unbeaten start to the Allianz NFL Division 1A campaign - as talisman Stephen O'Neill goaled a crucial penalty to gift them a two point defeat of Cork.

O'Neill's goal - which boosted his afternoon's tally to 1-05 at the death - chalked up a fourth straight win for the Mickey Harte's men and undoubtedly their most crucial of the season, with a visit to Dublin's Parnell Park to come next weekend.

Billy Morgan's Rebels put up an excellent fight as they trailed 0-07 to 0-09 at the break in Pairc Ui Rinn - with the sides initially level on six different occasions.

Derek Kavanagh, James Masters, Conor McCarthy, Kevin McMahon, Kevin O'Sullivan and Brendan Jer O'Sullivan all raised white flags for Cork in the opening half.

O'Neill was contributing the bulk for Tyrone - his four-point haul was added to by efforts from Peter Donnelly, Brian Dooher - with an expertedly-hit 45-metre shot - and two late drives from the industrious Sean Cavanagh.

Cork points from Sean Levis, John Hayes and Brendan Jer O'Sullivan answered an early trio of Tyrone overs on the restart, and Morgan's men looked set to cause an upset.

A 62nd-minute foul by Cork substitute Kieran Murphy on the advancing Cavanagh robbed them of that chance - and O'Neill stepped up to crack home the spot kick.