Tyrone 2-15

Longford 1-14

Tyrone were far more comfortable winners than what the scoreline suggests as they got their championship campaign back on track at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.

A pair of Cathal McShane goals in the 10th and 17th minutes set Mickey Harte's men up for a rountine win as they put the disappointment of their Ulster SFC semi-final loss to Donegal behind them. McShane's double helped the visitors to a 2-7 to 0-5 interval lead, with three of Longford's first half points coming from David McGinvey frees.

Peter Harte top-scored with 0-9 as an outclassed Longford side grabbed a late, late consolation goal through substitute Iarla O’Sullivan.

Longford, who have an impressive record against the big guns in the All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers, took an early lead through Daniel Mimnagh before Michael Cassidy and Harte (free) replied for last year's All-Ireland runners-up. Tyrone then pounced on a poor kickout by Paddy Collum which resulted in McShane raising his first green flag after Barry O'Farrell had blocked Niall Sludden's initial shot.

When Harte followed up with his second free, the Red Hands led by five points. McGinvey responded with a brace of frees before McShane fisted home his second goal after a long ball in from Cassidy.

Harte, Hugh Pat McGeary and McShane tagged on further Tyrone points as Longford could only muster up a couple of pointed frees from McGivney and Barry McKeon in reply. 

The hosts resumed with scores from the impressive Colm P Smyth and McGivney (free) to reduce the gap to six, but they couldn't get any closer as Harte kept the scoreboard ticking over at the other end from placed balls.

Smyth and Joe Hagan were on target for Padraic Davis' men, but the Red Hands remained in the driving seat, despite losing Harte to a black card in the 67th minute.

Substitute Ben McDonnell scored the visitors' last point before Longford rattled off 1-3 without reply in injury-time. Shane Kenny, Mickey Quinn and McKeon had points before O'Sullivan netted with virtually the last kick of the game.

Tyrone - N Morgan; H P McGeary (0-1), R McNamee, M McKernan; M Cassidy (0-1), K McGeary, F Burns; C Cavanagh, B Kennedy; D McClure, N Sludden, P Harte (0-9, 7f); D McCurry, C McShane (2-2), M Donnelly. Subs: B McDonnell (0-2) for B Kennedy, C Meyler for K McGeary, R Brennan for M McKernan, K Coney for D McClure, C McAliskey for D McCurry, C McCann for N Sludden.

Longford - P Collum; P Fox, D McElligot, B O’Farrell; M Quinn (0-2), P McCormack, D Quinn; J Keegan, D McGivney (0-4f); G Rogers, B McKeon (0-2, 1f), C Smyth (0-3); D Mimnagh (0-1), J McGivney, J Hagan (0-1). Subs: A McElligott for G Rogers, D Doherty for B O’Farrell, A Farrell for J Keegan, M Hughes for J McGivney, S Kenny (0-1) for D Mimnagh, I O’Sullivan (1-0) for J Hagan.

Referee - D O’Mahoney.

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