Stephen O'Neill pulls strings as Tyrone beat Kerry in feisty Masters final

The new Cavan forwards coach was Tyrone's playmaker at the St Brigid's club grounds outside Athlone

Screenshot of All-Ireland Masters Final : Tyrone v Kerry

All-Ireland Masters Football Final: Tyrone 0-12 Kerry 0-6 

Former Footballer of the Year Stephen O'Neill rolled back the years with a typically stylish display to help Tyrone claim a three-in-a-row of All-Ireland masters football titles.

The new Cavan forwards coach pulled the strings in attack as Tyrone's playmaker at the St Brigid's club grounds outside Athlone and pinched an important second-half point also.

There has never been any love lost between the two counties and six yellow cards were brandished with tempers boiling over at one stage approaching half-time following an incident involving Kerry great Aidan O'Mahony and Tyrone's O'Neill.

Tyrone, leading by a point at half-time, turned on the after-burners in a wind-assisted second-half with six points in a row between the 33rd and 45th minutes putting them in a winning position.

Full-forward Michael Anderson scored four of those points while ex-Fermanagh All-Star Marty McGrath weighed in with one of them for his adopted county.

Kerry briefly got it going with three points in a row midway through the second-half from John O'Connor but late Tyrone points from Damien Kelly and O'Neill proved the insurance scores.

It's the first time that Tyrone have won three All-Irelands in a row at any grade and will go down as a proud win.

Tyrone named a 42-man panel in the match programme that included legendary duo Joe McMahon and Sean Cavanagh though neither featured and they only brought on one sub throughout the hour.

O'Neill conducted the Tyrone attack and his quality was evident throughout the opening half as he threaded a series of sumptuous passes.

The Tyrone forwards weren't able to capitalise for the most part and the holders led by just 0-4 to 0-3 at half-time.

O'Mahony wore number 25 and was a late addition to the Kerry lineup in place of corner-back Denis Kennelly though he lined out at midfield and marked ex-Fermanagh star McGrath.

O'Mahony was an All-Ireland intermediate club finalist earlier this year while McGrath is due to play in the Fermanagh club senior championship tomorrow for Ederney.

Rathmore man O'Mahony was more influential initially and kicked Kerry's opening score in the sixth minute.

Substitute Kevin Lynch and Mark Crowley notched the Kingdom's other first-half points.

Niall Gormley has been a key figure in Tyrone's attack and shook off a couple of wides to register two of his side's first-half points from frees.

Tensions rose just before half-time following a series of incidents. Firstly, a goal for Tyrone, flicked in by Martin Grimes after a long free-in from O'Neill, was ruled out for a square ball offence.

Grimes had the ball in the Kerry net again seconds later but this time a free had already been awarded which Gormley converted.

In the last action of the half, both O'Mahony and O'Neill were booked. O'Neill appeared to shove out at O'Mahony after Tyrone had won a free though the referee carded both players. It sparked a minor melee and a bout of pushing and shoving, prompting the half-time whistle to be blown.

Anderson burst into the game in the third quarter with those four points as Tyrone took firm control of the game. With a strong wind behind them, they never looked like being caught after that burst and Grimes converted a point also as they strode to Dr Mick Loftus Cup success.

Tyrone scorers: Michael Anderson (0-5, 1 free), Niall Gormley (0-2, 2 frees), Damien Kelly (0-2), Marty McGrath (0-1), Martin Grimes (0-1), Stephen O'Neill (0-1, 1 free).

Kerry scorers: John O'Connor (0-3, 3 frees), Aidan O'Mahony (0-1), Kevin Lynch (0-1, 0-1f), Mark Crowley (0-1).

TYRONE: Colin Tuohey; Damien McDevitt, Aidan Brady, Ciaran Gourley; Gary Coney, Conor Gormley, Colm McGurk; Marty McGrath, Barry Collins; Eoin Bradley, Stephen O'Neill, Damien Kelly; Niall Gormley, Michael Anderson, Martin Grimes.

Subs: Martin Brannigan for McGurk 41.

KERRY: Tony Lyons; Timmy O'Leary, John Sheehan, John Brosnan; Fergus McAuliffe, Shane Dennehy, Colm Brosnan; Brian O'Sullivan Darcy, Aidan O'Mahony; Eoghan Lawlor, James Nagle, John O'Connor; Terry O'Sullivan, Mark Crowley, Ian McCarthy.

Subs: Denis Kennelly for O'Leary 18, Kevin Lynch for T O'Sullivan 22, John Enright for McAuliffe h/t, Donal O'Sullivan for O'Sullivan Darcy h/t, William Kirby for C Brosnan 39, John Paul Leahy for Sheehan 54, Niall Hobbert for Lyons 54, Jerry Kennedy for Crowley 59, O'Sullivan Darcy for Dennehy 59.

Referee: Michael McGirl (Leitrim).