Brian McGuigan put two years of injury frustration behind him tonight as Tyrone outfought Laois for the NFL Division 1 points in Omagh.
The former All Star forward, who has been battling a series of career-threatening injuries, came on as a second half substitute as the Red Hands picked up a vital league win.
The hosts were 0-05 to 0-00 ahead after 17 minutes, but three MJ Tierney frees had Laois trailing by 0-08 to 0-05 at half-time.
Tierney's seventh point of the night levelled at 0-14 apiece but late points from Colm McCullagh and Davy Harte saw Tyrone to victory.
Despite losing Owen Mulligan early in the second half to a hamstring injury, Tyrone battled on to claim their first win of the 2008 league.
In a free-flowing encounter, Laois may have lost the talented Ross Munnelly through injury after 12 minutes and made a less than convincing start, but they pushed the hosts to the limit.
There was some sparkling football on offer in a contest that did not boil over and saw some brilliant points from all angles.
Laois began at a blistering pace but were wasteful in front of the posts by kicking three wides inside five minutes.
Tyrone were far more clinical in attack as Mulligan, McCullagh and UUJ Sigerson Cup panellist Ray Mulgrew sent over points, with the hosts easing into an early lead.
Mickey Harte's charges were certainly on song in the opening stages and roving half-back Davy Harte completing the hosts' purple patch with a spectacular score after a good passing movement involving McCullagh and Mulligan.
At 0-05 to 0-00 down, Laois upped their game and a fisted Colm Parkinson score, following good work by Billy Sheehan, finally got them off the mark in the 20th-minute.
Laois were forced to dig deep and the free-taking abilities of MJ Tierney ensured they were two points adrift with 11 minutes remaining in the opening half.
Tyrone remained solid with some excellent defending by Ryan McMenamin but a Brian McCormack point cut the gap to the minimum by the 26th-minute.
However, Tyrone were strongest before the interval with Colin Holmes, Sean Cavanagh and Mulligan on target as against a lone Tierney point. All that left the Red Hands with a 0-08 to 0-05 interval advantage.
Nonetheless, Tyrone were left mesmerised after the interval when Laois made a flying start to the second half.
Substitute Colm Kelly and Tierney (0-02) were both on target to level the contest for the first time in the 39th-minute.
Despite the injury-enforced departure of Mulligan, Tyrone rallied strongly and points from Tommy McGuigan and Harte saw them edge back in front.
The midlanders kept up the pace with Sheehan and McCormack kicking some neat scores.
Until the closing stages, Tyrone were never quite able to shake off a resilient Laois side that cut the gap to a point with nine minutes remaining, courtesy of another McCormack score.
An Enda McGinley point put Tyrone back into a two-point advantage, a score that signalled the return to action of Brian McGuigan who got a standing ovation on his introduction.
Laois battled back with defender Peter O'Leary popping up for a point, before the only real goal chance of the contest fell to Sean Cavanagh who blasted wide from close range.
A seventh point for Tierney levelled the tie for only the second time, and although Tyrone broke in front once more, with five minutes of injury-time there was still plenty of time for Laois to steal a win.
However, Tyrone got a firm grasp on the points when Davy Harte angled over a 75th-minute point - his third of the game - to ensure the home win.
TYRONE: J Devine; PJ Quinn, J McMahon, D Carlin; D Harte (0-03), C Gormley, R McMenamin; C Holmes (0-01), E McGinley (0-02); R Mellon, R Mulgrew (0-01), S Cavanagh (0-01); T McGuigan (0-02, 0-02f), C McCullagh (0-02), O Mulligan (0-03, 0-02f).
Subs used: P Jordan for McMahon (half-time), M Swift for Carlin, N Gormley (0-01) for Mulligan (both 42 mins), B McGuigan for Mellon (63), P Donnelly for Holmes (68).
LAOIS: M Nolan; C Ryan, D Rooney, C Healy; P O'Leary (0-01), J O'Loughlin, P McMahon; P Clancy, K Meaney; R Munnelly, B McCormack (0-03), B Sheehan (0-01); MJ Tierney (0-07, 0-06f), B Quigley, C Parkinson (0-01).
Subs used: C Kelly (0-01) for Munnelly (12 mins), P Lawlor for Meaney (59).
Referee: John Bannon (Longford)
