Tyrone.......31-4
Dublin.......1-08
By Barry O'Donnell
STUNNING Tyrone catapulted themselves back into genuine contention for a third All-Ireland title with an emphatic twelve point demolition of shell-shocked Dublin at rain-soaked Croke Park on Saturday afternoon.
After three years of inconsistent and down right mediocre fare, Mickey Harte's fired up Red Hands upset the formbook in brilliant fashion, rolling back the clock to '03 and '05 in producing a dynamic and breathtaking seventy minutes of football.
The shock outcome sets up a semi-final confrontation with Leinster surprise packets Wexford back at Headquarters on Sunday week and keeps alive the mouth-watering prospect of the O'Neill County lifting the Sam Maguire for the third time in six years.
It was tub-thumping stuff from the underrated Ulster side, led superbly by captain marvel Brian Dooher, and was by far Tyrone's most complete and vibrant showing since the All-Ireland decider against Kerry some three years ago.
The fact that all but one of the victors impressive scoring tally of 3-14 came from play underlines the scope and sheer quality of their breathtaking attacking play, and while the much-hyped Dubs were shown up once again as mere Championship charlatans, it shouldn't detract from Tyrone's herculean efforts.
The hunger, intensity and insatiable work rate which so characterised that brace of All Ireland triumphs was once more in evidence, and with the forward sector flexing its muscles, the Dubs just had no answer.
The distraught Leinster champions might point out the loss of their attacking talisman Alan Brogan after just six minutes with a hamstring injury, but its doubtful even the talented St Oliver Plunkett's marksman would have made much difference so superior in every sector were the northerners.
With the rain bucketing down relentlessly all day it was little wonder the floodlights were switched on at Croke Park even with a 4pm start time and it was evident from the initial stages that Tyrone had emerged intent on laying down a marker.
Tommy McGuigan opened the scoring with a neat left foot finish in the third minute after a good purposeful break by Ryan McMenamin and then Conor Gormley surged onto Ciaran Gourley's release to double that advantage.
The Metropolitans in contrast shot four woeful wides in the first ten minutes, but despite the loss of Brogan, they slowly settled and Tomas Quinn slotted over a 30m free, before half-back Barry Cahill banged over the equaliser on the quarter hour mark with a tidy finish.
Throughout the campaign to date the Dubs have been lethal in front of goal but they spurned a gilt-edged opportunity in the 17th minute, Quinn wasting a glorious two on one situation when handpassing carelessly over the head of Diarmuid Connolly who was waiting unmarked inside.
In hindsight that was to prove a pivotal moment as Brian Dooher's wonderful score seconds later at the other end was to hand Tyrone a lead they were never to relinquish. Colm McCullagh was also looking sprightly roving around the forward zone and he twice put the seal on fluent approach work with languid left footed efforts which split the posts from the Cusack Stand side.
With Ciaran Gourley, Conor Gormley and the ever tenacious Ryan McMenamin helping put the clampers on the labouring Dublin attack, rejuvenated Tyrone were playing with real zest and commitment, clearly relishing the underdogs tag that they carried into the contest.
And just moments after Tommy McGuigan was denied a goal by a smothering block from Stephen Cluxton, Tyrone underlined their early promise with a three pointer in the 26th minute. Sean Cavanagh latched onto Enda McGinley's sideline ball, muscled away from the hapless Ross McConnell and blasted past Cluxton from close range.
The Hill 16 hordes were strangely subdued but two minutes before the interval they were thrown a lifeline when Conal Keaney rose ahead of the unrushing John Devine to fist Colin Moran's sideline ball to the net and so reduce the deficit to 1-5 to 1-2.
Crucially though Tyrone were able to pop the Dublin balloon with a dazzling goal of their own before the break. Tommy McGuigan displayed his wizardry with a pinpoint ball inside to Joe McMahon and the Omagh man, who had a stormer throughout, finished with some aplomb high to the top left hand corner. Sub Bernard Brogan responded with an excellent point in injury time but at the break Dublin had a real mountain to climb. (Dublin 1-3 Tyrone 2-5)
The Dubs needed to seize the momentum but instead it was Tyrone who reasserted their dominance, that dynamo Dooher leading the onslaught. A virtuoso score from the Clann na nGael ace within a minute of the resumption signalled Tyrone intent not to release their grip, and further well-crafted scores by Tommy McGuigan and McCullagh opened further significant daylight.
A Quinn free and booming effort by Keaney raised the Dubs morale, but with their much-praised midfield axis of Ciaran Whelan and Shane Ryan off the space and lacking discipline, there was never any serious threat of the Delaney Cup holders mounting any sort of concerted fightback.
Cavanagh's point curled over shifted Tyrone further in front and when Davy Harte put away the third goal just before the three quarter mark the issue was put beyond all doubt. A lung-bursting foray by the industrious Collie Holmes paved the way, and Harte cut in on David Henry to score with real panache.
Brogan managed to convert a point for the Dubs but the Red Hand machine was really purring during the closing stages and five successive points turned it into an embarrassing afternoon for the 'Jacks' with thousands making their way for the exit gates before the final whistle.
Harte, Cavanagh, McGinley, McMahon and inevitably Dooher accurately splits the posts at the Hill End with Dublin looking a forlorn and well-beaten bunch.
They were even denied a consolation goal right at the death when sub Paul Casey fired against the underside of Devine's crossbar, Brogan blasting the rebound over.
The late appearance of sub Eoin Mulligan brought further cheers from the Red Hand supporters and rekindled memories of his wonder goal when the two counties last met in the Championship in 2005. That year ultimately ended in glory for Tyrone and who knows after this imperious display no-one would rule out a similar glorious ending to the 2008 campaign.
