Tyrone win GAA football championship

Tyrone have taken the Sam Maguire back to Ulster for the second time in three years after an intense battle with Kerry at Croke Park on Sunday.

Tyrone's 1-16 (19) to 2-10 (16) victory was a hard-won title as Kerry wrestled with a Tyrone side who displayed an intensity that the Kingdom just failed to match.

The 82,112 crowd were treated to a spectacle of some sparkling passages of football by both sides that saw champions Kerry unable to get a sufficient grasp of the game to overthrow a confident Ulster side.

It was a different story in the opening few minutes of the game as Kerry went at Tyrone hammer and tongs to secure a goal from Dara Ó Cinnéide in the sixth minute.

While points were traded at 1-2 to 0-2, for a full quarter-hour Tyrone seemed unable to tackle a Kerry side that showed a depth of furious play that threatened the Red Hand team. But Tyrone stopped the rot and it was Kerry who were frustrated, eventually ceding control to the Ulstermen.

Brian McGuigan took a couple of points and edged Tyrone closer to Kerry's scoreline. A goal from Peter Canavan rattled the net and two minutes from half-time and Tyrone left the field leading 1-8 to 1-5.

For the second-half Micky Harte brought in Colin Holmes for Peter Canavan. Tyrone stayed ahead until a goal in the 58th minute from Tomás Ó Sé looked like taking Kerry, who had stayed in contention, right back into the game. It did not happen as Tyrone closed ranks to keep out the goal Kerry desperately needed in extra-time, and pointed to take the title north for the second time in three years.

It was later confirmed that Tyrone veteran, Peter Canavan, who despite facing fitness problems, stamped his authority on the match, is to retire on a high.

(SP/MB)