Tyrone outlined their championship intentions with a superb 1-14 to 1-09 victory over reigning Ulster champions Armagh at Clones this afternoon.
The highly impressive Tyrone unit play the winners of the Antrim versus Derry clash in the next round.Armagh, who were chasing a third successive Ulster title, will enter the draw for the All-Ireland losers series on June 3rd.
In preparation for the championship joint Tyrone managers Art McRory and Eugene McKenna introduced many fresh faces to the panel.It was these players, emerging from the minor and under-21 ranks, that impressed most.
After a mere ten seconds debutante corner forward Eoin Mulligan was on hand to flick the ball soccer style under goalkeeper Benny Tiernan for an explosive start for Tyrone's championship campaign.
Declan McCrossan, another making his debut, broke from his left half back position to score a wonderful point from the left hand of the Clones pitch.
Tyrone kept the pressure on their opponents for most of the first half and were always faster and sharper to the breaking ball.Armagh settled somewhat late in the half and pegged back the difference at half-time to three points.
Having shown little flair in the opening half, Armagh needed to apply the pressure from the throw-in.Within 16 seconds Armagh were back in the game after a mirror image copy of Tyrone’s goal.
Diarmuid Marsden won possession and fisted a high ball to corner forward Stephen McDonnell who, on the volley, punched to the back of the net to level the game.
McDonnell was on hand nine minutes later to fist a point over the bar while the active Oisin McConville pointed from a free to extend Armagh’s advantage to two points.
At this stage Armagh were cruising but their failure to press home that advantage allowed Tyrone back into the game.A brace of points from Tyrone, notably midfielder Cormac McAnallen’s monster point from centre field, leveled the game for the third time.
Tyrone pushed on and further points from Brian Dooher and the superb Stephen O’Neill - scorer of five points - put the game out of reach for the treble chasers.
In the closing minutes McConville missed a free while Tyrone substitute Brian McGuinness and O’Neill kicked their side into the next round of the Ulster championship.
In Leinster, Carlow needed a last minute point from defender Joe Byrne to snatch a single point victory over Wicklow in their replay at Newbridge.
Both teams finished the game with 14 players after Carlow forward Brian Kelly and Wicklow captain Ronan Coffey were sent off in the second half for separate incidents.
Carlow got off to a great start kicking five unanswered points in the opening 20 minutes.But Wicklow then got back on terms kicking four points, three from frees by Tommy Gill.Carlow led 0-6 to 0-4 at half-time.
With 15 minutes to play the sides were level at seven points apiece.Then Willie Quinlan and Gill exchanged points and the game appeared to be heading for extra-time before Byrne popped up for the winning score.
Padraig Joyce scored three goals and three points for Galway in their comfortable 3-24 to 3-5 win over Leitrim at Tuam.Leitrim got off to an ideal start when Shane Canning scored a goal after two minutes.
Galway responded two minutes later with the first of Joyce’s goals.After some poor finishing Galway steadied their game and Joyce scored his second goal in the 23rd minute. At half-time Galway led by 2-8 to 1-1.
In the second half Galway played with more composure.Joyce scored his third goal soon after the resumption.Leitrim bridged the gap when Canning and Adrian Charles scored goals but Galway were still firing on all cylinders.
Kieran Comer scored four brilliant points while Ja Fallon and Tommy Joyce tallied three apiece.
At Nowlan Park Laois won through to a Leinster hulling quarter-final meeting with Wexford after turning over a half-time deficit to defeat Kevin Fennelly’s Dublin side on a scoreline of 1-15 to 2-11.