Tyrone got the better of Cork at Glenisk O’Connor Park, Tullamore to claim second place in Group 3 of the All-Ireland SFC round robin series and home advantage for next weekend’s preliminary quarter-final.
It was only after Ben Cullen broke through for the game’s only goal while the Munster side was down to 14 men in the third quarter that the Red Hands managed to shake off their opponents.
The sides had been level on ten occasions prior to that 48th minute goal, virtually point-for-point throughout a first half that saw both sides struggle to make a cutting incision.
The Red Hands will be without midfielder Conn Kilpatrick for at least one game after he received a straight red card eight minutes from the end.
It was Cork who created the best of the scoring opportunities in the first quarter, but an attack shorn of the injured Brian Hurley lacked the clinical edge.
Nevertheless, they garnered enough product off purposeful counter-attacking to keep their opponents chasing throughout the opening quarter.
Noses in front through Mark Cronin, Stephen Sherlock and Chris Og Jones, they were pegged back each time by a Tyrone side looking for the quick ball to Darragh Canavan, who was finding Damien O’Mahony a tough opponent.
The Red Hand full forward did land a terrific score, with brother Ruairi also on target as they found an equaliser each time the Munster men struck.
Sherlock eased Cork two ahead, but the Ulster men were back in front by the 29th minute through Seanie O’Donnell, finding more potency with Mattie Donnelly pressing from deep.
However, Cork hit three of the last four scores of the half, with Cronin and Sherlock both bringing their tallies to three, for a 0-10 to 0-9 interval lead.
Cork created the first genuine goal chance of the contest soon after the restart as Tommy Walsh burst through from deep to release Paul Walsh, but he drilled his shot just wide.
They had been level seven times in the first half, and Darragh Canavan equalised again from a free.
The Rebels were reduced to 14 men when Jones picked up a black card following a clash with goalkeeper Morgan, whose anticipation saw him dart out to the 45 metre line to beat the full forward to the ball.
And the Red Hands struck for a goal on 48 minutes as wing back Ben Cullen ghosted in to collect Ciaran Daly’s assist and slide low to the net past Christopher Kelly.
Goalkeeper Morgan stroked over a point from play to ease his side four ahead, and Darragh Canavan danced through for a gem to maintain the cushion moving into final 15 minutes.
Midfielder Conn Kilpatrick received a straight red card on 62 minutes, but the Ulster men saw the game out with scores from Morgan, who converted a ’45 after Kelly had saved from Seanie O’Donnell, and Michael McKernan, as Sherlock brought his total to eight for the afternoon.
Tyrone: N Morgan (0-03, 1f, 1 ’45); M McKernan (0-01), P Hampsey, A Clarke; B Cullen (1-00), M Donnelly, N Devlin (0-01); B Kennedy, C Kilpatrick (0-01); C Daly, R Canavan (0-02), M O’Neill (0-01), D McCurry (0-03, 1f), D Canavan (0-05, 1f), S O’Donnell (0-01).
Subs: P Harte for O’Neill (h-t), C McShane for R Canavan (63), S O’Hare for O’Donnell (66), C Quinn for Cullen (68), T Quinn for D Canavan (72)
Cork: C Kelly; K Flahive, D O’Mahony, M Shanley; R Maguire, T Walsh, M Taylor; I Maguire, C O’Callaghan; P Walsh, S Powter, B O’Driscoll (0-02); M Cronin (0-04, 2f), C Og Jones (0-03), S Sherlock (0-08, 6f).
Subs: R Deane for Powter (49), C Corbett for Walsh (52), S Meehan for Flahive (65), C O’Mahony for Cronin (68), K O’Hanlon for O’Driscoll (70)
Referee: P Neilin (Roscommon).
