Tyrone picked up their first win of the season with a two points success at the expense of previously unbeaten Cork in a Healy Park thriller.
Goals from Tommy McGuigan, Colm Cavanagh and Ryan Mellon sealed the win for the Red Hands in gripping contest which also saw the return of Sean Cavanagh, who made his first appearance since the All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Cork last August.
Cork dominated for spells, but could never shake off a Tyrone side fighting for survival in Division One.
Tyrone dominated the opening quarter, and eased into a 0-4 to 0-2 lead, with Owen Mulligan hitting a couple of excellent scores.
But once Alan O’Connor and Pearse O’Neill started to dominate the midfield area, the Rebels swept forward in waves of attack.
Aided by some poor Tyrone defending, Cork shot six points in as many minutes to go five points clear.
Paul Kerrigan, Daniel Goulding and Colm O’Neill were all on target as they raced into a 0-9 to 0-4 lead.
The home side had gone 22 minutes without a score, but made a dazzling finish to the half with a two-goal burst.
Colm Cavanagh superbly lobbed goalkeeper Ken O’Halloran, and moments later, Tommy McGuigan poked home a second goal from close range after Mulligan’s shot had been saved by O’Halloran.
Cork also had a golden goal chance in the latter stages of the first half, when Daniel Goulding sent a screamer crashing against the angle of post and crossbar.
Mickey Harte’s men led by 2-5 to 0-9 at half-time, but another Cork flourish saw them go back in front within five minutes of the restart, Colm O’Neill clipping the top of the crossbar with blistering shot.
The introduction of Cavanagh on 41 minutes signalled the start of another revival, and Mulligan’s third point brought the Ulster men level at the beginning of the final quarter.
They grabbed a third goal 10 minutes from the end, with Aidan Cassidy driving through the middle to unleaseh a shot, which was saved by O’Halloran, and sub Ryan Mellon slotted the rebound home.
Tyrone: J Curran, M Swift, J McMahon, C McCarron, D Harte (0-1), C Gormley (0-1), R McMenamin, A Cassidy, C Cavanagh (1-0), M Donnelly, E McCusker, R Mulgrew, T McGuigan (1-1), M Penrose (0-2, 2f), O Mulligan (0-3.
Subs: S O’Neill (0-1) for Gormley (38), S Cavanagh for Donnelly (41), C McCullagh for Mulgrew (50), R Mellon (1-0) for McCusker (50)
Cork: K O’Halloran, R Carey, M Shields, E Cotter, P Kissane (0-1), B O’Regan, N O’Leary, A O’Connor, P O’Neill (0-2), P Kerrigan (0-3), D O’Connor (0-1), P Kelly, D Goulding (0-3), P O’Flynn , C O’Neill (0-5, 3f).
Subs: J Hayes (0-1) for C O’Neill (55), C O’Droscoll for O’Regan (65), F Goold for O’Flynn (67)
Referee: D Coldrick (Meath)
