Allianz Football League Division One North

TYRONE 2-15 ARMAGH 2-10

By Declan Bogue at the Athletic Grounds

A far more solid looking Tyrone overcame some frantic moments in getting past an Armagh team that lost their way badly after a period of dominance that could have sealed a rare win over their neighbours.

After last week's loss to Donegal, they were perhaps unsure of where they were with their new style of kicking long. It worked at times here, but at others Armagh had too many bodies back to move the ball fast. In any event, they got enough scores to win most matches.

Tyrone were attempting to make the most of Rory Grugan's black card, incurred by stopping Peter Harte in full flight in the 45th minute. Instead, they had a nightmare few minutes, shipping a goal from Conor Turbitt to add to Jarlath Óg Burns' palmed three-pointer in the first half.

Further catastrophe followed when Frank Burns fouled Rian O'Neill in the penalty area, but Stefan Campbell's effort was poor and Tyrone custodian Niall Morgan was equal to it.

Armagh made no fewer than five first half substitutes, some were forced with clear injuries to Aidan Forker and James Morgan, but it left them with little to reach for when the game needed fresh legs at the end.

The Red Hands made a number of positional switches with Peter Harte far more effective coming from wing-back, grabbing a blistering goal that he rocketed to the roof of the net in the first half, set up by his brother in law Darragh Canavan.

Canavan also was the architect of substitute Mark Bradley's goal in the 56th minute, which was the high point of their 1-5 haul to Armagh's 0-2 in the final quarter of the game. Darren McCurry came in for his first start of the season and on this form will be a definite starter from here on.

The odd thing was that the Tyrone full forward line were held scoreless in this game, but Canavan's influence was everywhere, not least in his ability to see when the goal is on, but also around five times when he just picked the pocket of an opponent with a clever dispossession.

This now leaves the Division One North with a very interesting final weekend. Any team can go up and any team can go down as Tyrone host Monaghan in Omagh and Armagh will be at home again with Donegal coming to town.

Scorers for Tyrone: D McCurry 0-7 (4fs), P Donaghy 0-4 (2fs, 1m), P Harte 1-1, M Bradley 1-1 (f), Donnelly, Meyler 0-1 each.

Scorers for Armagh: R Grugan 0-5 (3fs), J Óg Burns 1-0, C Turbitt 1-0, J Hall, R O'Neill, O O'Neill, S Campbell, J Duffy 0-1 each.

TYRONE: N Morgan; C Munroe, R McNamee, P Hampsey; M O'Neill, M Donnelly, P Harte; F Burns, D McClure; P Donaghy, D McCurry, C Meyler; K McGeary, C McKenna, D Canavan

Subs: R Brennan for O'Neill, M Cassidy for McClure (both 35 mins), M Bradley for Donaghy (50 mins), L Rafferty for Canavan (60 mins), M McKernan for Munroe (62 mins).

ARMAGH: B Hughes; R Kennedy, A Forker, J Morgan; C Mackin, A McKay, C O'Hanlon; N Grimley, J Óg Burns; J Hall, R O'Neill, G McCabe; R Grugan, O O'Neill, S Campbell.

Subs: B McCambidge for Kennedy (10 mins), R McQuillan for Morgan (18 mins), P Hughes for Hall (21 mins), P Burns for Forker, C Turbitt for McCabe (both 34 mins), J Duffy for Campbell (55 mins).

REFEREE: David Gough (Meath).