All-Ireland SFC qualifiers: Louth 2-16, Tyrone 2-16 All-Ireland football champions Tyrone went into Saturday's game at Navan's Páirc Tailteann as 9 to 1 on favourites but were relieved to depart with their title intact as Louth - eight points down before the break - made a sensational recovery.
Two Owen Mulligan goals had left the National League Division Two winners with a mountain to climb but, after trailing by 0-6 to 2-7 at the end of the first period, Louth stunned the favourites with a strong final surge.
Tyrone were hanging on to a four-point advantage with normal time nearly up when Darren Clarke popped a close-in free between the uprights and JP Rooney struck for a dramatic goal to send the tie into extra-time.
Louth, sufficiently encouraged after saving the game, took a two- point lead before Tyrone battled back with a pair of pointed frees by Mulligan.
Mickey Harte admitted he thought Tyrone's football year was over. "In the second period of extra-time we were two points down, got it down to one but missed a few chances to draw. We were in a situation where our season looked to be at an end but we couldn't end it without a serious fight," he said.
While Harte gave credit to his players for refusing to yield, not many Tyrone players performed to their potential. Outstanding midfielder Seán Cavanagh was a notable exception but the manager still has injury headaches.
Team captain Brian Dooher did not start because of a knee problem and Gerard Cavlan and Stephen O'Neill were both forced to retire. Mulligan and the lively Martin Penrose were the only starting Tyrone forwards to finish the game.
Although Mulligan has had more sparkling outings, the corner forward still contributed 2-6. The sides were evenly matched before he sneaked in behind the defence for the first goal on 35 minutes and a matter of seconds later the ball was in the net again, this time from very close range.
The Louth comeback was boosted by Mark Stanfield's goal after a Rooney attempt was blocked out 13 minutes into the second half. That left the scores 2-8 to 1-9 and Louth were right back in contention.
With Jamie Carr, John Neary and Paddy Keenan to the fore and substitutes Ray Finnegan and Brian White making their mark, the underdogs contributed much to a fine game.
Rooney did well to find the net at the second attempt and then the two sides added three points during the additional 20 minutes. White kicked Louth back into the lead which they held briefly in the first half and then provided the delivery for a brilliant Mark Brennan score.
Points from Raymond Mulgrew and White followed before Tyrone dominated the second period of extra-time. With Louth's mighty effort taking its toll, they were let off the hook by five wides.
The teams meet again at Omagh next Saturday.
LOUTH: S Reynolds; D Brennan, C Goss, J Carr (0-1); J O'Brien, P McGinnity, J Neary; M Farrelly (0-1), P Keenan (0-1); C Grimes, M Brennan (0-1), M Stanfield (1-2); JP Rooney (1-0), M Carroll, D Clarke (0-7, four frees). Subs: R Finnegan (0-1) for Carroll (28 mins), B White (0-2) for Grimes (53 mins), C Grimes for Rooney (80 mins), T O'Brien for Clarke (83 mins), M Fanning for O'Brien (87 mins).
TYRONE: P McConnell; R McMenamin, C McGinley, M McGee; D Harte, C Gormley, P Jordan (0-1); C Holmes, S Cavanagh; P Donnelly, G Cavlan (0-1, free), R Mellon; M Penrose, S O'Neill (0-4, one free, '45), O Mulligan (2-6, three points frees). Subs: E McGinley (0-2) for Donnelly (half time), R Mulgrew (0-2) for Cavlan (40 mins), D Carlin for Harte (55 mins), B Meenan for Holmes (62 mins), A Ball for O'Neill (66 mins), B Donnelly for Mellon (79 mins).
Referee: F Flynn (Leitrim).
