ULSTER SFC QUARTER-FINAL/ Down 2-8 Tyrone 2-8: THIS WAS one of those tense, cramped and fairly exhausting afternoons all so typical of Ulster football, some of those present just happy to get out of there in one piece. And that was only in the press seats. On the field it proved even more claustrophobic and in the end there wasn't even room to separate the teams. After a game where possession swung like a wrecking ball, first in Tyrone's favour and then in Down's, it finished with the only fair result.
So they'll go at it again in Newry next Saturday, with a 7pm throw-in.
Tyrone played some of their best football since the famous All-Ireland campaign of 2005, yet Down, when they got going, looked pretty hot themselves, and will now relish the second crack at the defending Ulster champions.
What ultimately defined the game were the two goals for each team. The first two went to Tyrone as they delivered some vintage football, all orchestrated by the indefinable presence of Brian Dooher - the oldest man on the field at 32 and simply dazzling with his tireless work rate.
But when Down hit back with two goals either side of half-time they suddenly stole the momentum, leading for the first time on 50 minutes and at that stage appearing the more likely winners. Yet the sides were level twice again after that, before Dooher appeared to have fired over a winner for Tyrone with just five minutes remaining.
Then, on the stroke of full-time, Down substitute Paul McCumiskey slotted over the equalising free. McCumiskey is the latest of Down's underage stars and was one of four replacements who made a telling impact when introduced, with midfielder Ambrose Rodgers perhaps the most pivotal switch of all.
The announcement of two additional minutes of injury time thus created the inevitably frenzied climax. Tyrone substitute Tommy McGuigan had a good chance to steal the glory only to kick a very poor wide, while at the other end, fellow substitute Michael McGee produced a robust block on a ball headed for McCumiskey, which may well have resulted in a free in. However, David Coldrick of Meath called it in Tyrone's favour, and thus they were saved for another day.
It would have been particularly hard on Tyrone had they lost, given they were seven points ahead at two different stages of the first half. After a nervous start, they hit their stride and outscored Down 2-3 to 0-2 in the first 20 minutes - led by Dooher, with Seán Cavanagh the target man after starting at full forward instead of midfield.
Their first goal, on eight minutes, came after a smart move started by Dooher. Martin Penrose and Brian McGuigan each rattled the Down defence, before Colm McCullagh completed the move with his thunderous finish. Ten minutes later, Penrose set up Cavanagh, who brilliantly dummied a couple of Down defenders before slotting in goal number two.
Down were far too hesitant with possession and almost standing off their men, and while Liam Doyle's free on 20 minutes briefly reduced the gap to six points, Tyrone went seven clear again when Colm Cavanagh hit a point. It was their last score for 25 minutes.
Still, goal chances at both ends were coming thick and fast. First, big Dan Gordon had a goal disallowed for a square ball, while Kevin Hughes - an early replacement for the injured Enda McGinley - and John Clarke saw their efforts come off the crossbar.
Down got some reward for the persistence as Benny Coulter fired a shot at goal that looked set to come off the post, only for Tyrone defenders Justin McMahon and Philip Jordan to direct it over their own line.
The half-time introduction of Rodgers and Kevin McKernan was what truly brought Down back into the game, with Seán Cavanagh reverting to midfield to stem the shift in possession there. Down were playing a harder game, a little too hard at times - and full back Martin Cole was lucky to stay on the field after elbowing Davy Harte in the nose. Harte was blood-substituted but never reappeared.
When they ended their scoring drought 12 minutes in, Tyrone were still four points clear - 2-5 to 1-4. Down hit two cool points in succession, from Gordon and substitute Paul Murphy, and then on 50 minutes hit the front after a superb move, started by McCumiskey, saw Coulter lay off the ball for Rodgers, who palmed into the net. With 20 minutes to go, Tyrone had a real battle on their hands. Yet they made their name in such situations, and they didn't lie down. Seán Cavanagh hit a big point that started an exchange of scores that raised the tension level considerably - and which held all the way to the finish.
DOWN: 1 B McVeigh; 4 C Murney, 3 M Cole, 2 L Howard; 5 A Carr, 6 L Doyle (0-2, both frees), 7 D Rafferty; 8 D Gordon (0-2), 9 J Lynch; 10 J Fegan, 11 R Murtagh, 12 D Hughes; 13 J Clarke, 14 R Sexton (0-1), 15 B Coulter (1-0). Subs: 20 P Murphy (0-1) for Murney (31 mins), 22 A Rodgers (1-1) for Lynch, 25 K McKernan for Fegan (both half-time), 27 P McCumiskey (0-1, a free) for Clarke (47 mins).
TYRONE: 1 P McConnell; 2 R McMenamin, 3 J McMahon, 4 D McCaul; 5 D Harte, 6 C Gormley, 7 P Jordan; 8 C Holmes, 12 E McGinley; 10 B Dooher (0-1), 11 B McGuigan, 14 C Cavanagh (0-2, one free); 13 M Penrose (0-1), 9 S Cavanagh (1-1), 15 C McCullagh (1-2). Subs: 21 K Hughes (0-1) for McGinley (15 mins, inj), 17 D Carlin for Harte (43 mins, blood sub), 23 M McGee for McCaul (53 mins), 24 T McGuigan for C Cavanagh (55 mins, inj), 19 N Gormley for McGuigan (62 mins), 25 J McMahon for Holmes (63 mins).
YELLOW CARDS: Down: M Cole (42 mins), P Murphy (56 mins), A Rodgers (58 mins), A Carr (65 mins). Tyrone: C Cavanagh (26 mins). RED CARDS: None.
Referee: David Coldrick (Meath).
Attendance: 17,500.
