Dublin blew Tyrone away with an irresistible display of power football to book an All-Ireland SFC semi-final date with Donegal.
Pat Gilroy’s inspired team produced a marvellous performance of committed, controlled endeavour to blast their way through to the last four.
They will go into their next assignment against another Ulster team in positive mood following a showing which delighted their fans among the 52,661-strong crowd at Croke Park.
Diarmuid Connolly led the way with a marvellous seven points tally, all from play.
Indeed, the Dubs hit 19 scores from play, and although they failed to hit the net, they could have had three goals on a night when they never looked like being beaten.
Paul Flynn sent Bernard Brogan in for a crack at goal, one-on-one with Pascal McConnell, but the Tyrone ‘keeper pulled off a superb save, with his opposite number Stephen Cluxton converting the resultant ’45 to cancel out Mark Donnelly’s early point.
Sean Cavanagh edged the Red Hands back in front from a free, but the Ulster men struggled to break down a Dublin defence that tackled and harried as if their lives depended on it.
In one cameo, Brian McGuigan, Martin Penrose nad Owen Mulligan all had shots blocked in quick succession, and Pat Gilroy’s men broke to go two clear through Diarmuid Connolly.
Connolly was finding a lot of space first against Justin McMahon, then Sean O’Neill, and by the end of the opening quarter, he had kicked four excellent points from play to give his side a 0-06 to 0-03 advantage.
Martin Penrose dropped back to give his full back line extra protection but the Dubs continued to attack with menace, and two Bernard Brogan points and a Bryan Cullen effort opening out a six points advantage.
Michael Fitzsimons, Rory O’Carroll and Ger Brennan performed heroics at the back for Pat Gilroy’s side, holding their opponents scoreless for a quarter of an hour, until Donnelly notched his second of the evening.
Peter Harte knocked over a 25 metre free, having missed a similar effort moments earlier, but once again, the Dubs countered at pace for Alan Brogan and Connolly to add to their tallies.
Dublin led by 0-11 to 0-06 at the interval, and continued where they left off immediately after the restart, with Connolly stroking over his sixth, and Denis Bastick landing a monster effort, before Flynn made it 0-14 to 0-06.
Bernard Brogan had another goal chance, but blasted his shot over the bar, and as Tyrone’s cause grew more desperate, more gaping holes began to open in their defence, allowing Connolly to send Flynn clear, but his shot flew wide at the far post.
Alan Brogan also went for the net, but he too just missed the target, profligacy which could be excused against the backdrop of an nine points cushion.
Substitute Brian Dooher and Penrose pulled back Tyrone points, but the Dubs were unfazed, and Connolly, now being shadowed by Conor Gormley, brought his tally to seven, all from play.
With 15 minutes to play, the Leinster champions led by nine points, Bernard Brogan having added to his tally and set one up for Barry Cahill.
Stephen O’Neill, Enda McGinley and Sean Cavanagh were on target at the other end, but the game was up for the treble All-Ireland winners.
The Brogan boys were in their pomp, curling over spectacular scores to delight the masses on the Hill
Dublin: S Cluxton (0-02, 1f, 1 ’45), M Fitzsimons, R O’Carroll, C O’Sullivan, J McCarthy, G Brennan, J Nolan, D Bastick (0-01), MD Macauley, P Flynn (0-02), A Brogan (0-03), B Cullen (0-01), B Cahill (0-01), D Connolly (0-07), B Brogan (0-05, 1f).
Subs: R McConnell for Macauley, K McManamon for Flynn, E Fennell for Bastick, P McMahon for Nolan
Tyrone: P McConnell, M Swift, Joe McMahon, Justin McMahon, Sean O’Neill, C Gormley, P Jordan, K Hughes, S Cavanagh (0-04, 3f), C Cavanagh, B McGuigan, P Harte (0-01, f), M Penrose (0-04, 3f), M Donnelly (0-02), O Mulligan.
Subs: B Dooher (0-01) for McGuigan, D Carlin for Justin McMahon, Stephen O’Neill (0-02) for Harte, E McGinley (0-01) for Hughes, A Cassidy for C Cavanagh
Referee: J McQuillan (Cavan).
