More surprising than the result – a 1-09 to 1-06 victory for Dublin in Healy Park – was referee Paddy Russell's failure to abandon a violent encounter that saw the 2006 National Football League explode into action.
Four players were sent off by the Tipperary official, who also flashed fourteen yellow cards over the 80-odd minutes of bad-tempered action.
Twelve thousand fans at Healy Park witnessed violent scenes, with mass brawls punctuating a fractious encounter which never developed into the entertaining sporting spectacle that had been anticipated.
Alan Brogan of Dublin and Tyrone's Colin Holmes received straight red cards, with Dublin midfielder Denis Bastic and Footballer of the Year Stephen O'Neill dismissed on second yellows.
The Dubs had eight players booked, their opponents six, and many more players were fortunate to escape sanction. Russell was escorted off the field by stewards as angry fans vented their anger at the end of a game which saw the All-Ireland champions suffer a rare home defeat.
Remarkably, Mickey Harte's side scored just one point in the second half, after leading by a goal at the interval.
Tomas Quinn once again emerged as Dublin's match-winner, amassing a personal tally of 1-7 in spite of a series of bad misses.
A fourth minute melee involving up to 18 players set the scene for a fiercely contested opening half.
Punches were clearly thrown by several players, but referee Paddy Russell chose to be lenient, flashing yellow cards at Tyrone midfielder Brian Meenan and Dublin attacker Alan Brogan.
The opening quarter produced just four scores, the pick of them an excellent effort from play from Tyrone midfielder Colin Holmes.
Stephen O'Neill and Tomas Quinn were on target from frees, and Owen Mulligan had just edged the All-Ireland champions in front when they were awarded a penalty for a foul on teenager debutant Raymond Mulgrew.
O'Neill gave goalkeeper Paul Copeland no chance with a sublime spot kick, and another free from the Footballer of the Year gave his side a 1-5 to 0-3 lead.
But Ciaran Whelan began to emerge as a midfield force, and the Dubs staged a strong finish to the half, Quinn converting two more frees to bring his tally to five.
Tyrone led by 1-5 to 0-5 at the break, but the Dubs were level by the ninth minute of the second half, when Quinn slotted home a penalty.
By that time another outbreak of violence saw Brogan and Holmes red-carded.
Tyrone had missed a handful of useful opportunities when they lost ace attacker O'Neill to a second booking 23 minutes into the half.
The loss of injured Gerard Cavlan further weakened Red Hand attacking options, and it was Dublin who pressed home the advantage.
Bryan Cullen gave them the lead for the first time, and two more frees from Quinn eased them into a three points advantage.
Substitute Peter Donnelly hit Tyrone's only score of the half, and it was corner back David Henry who thumped over the clinching point for Paul Caffrey's side.
