Dublin confirmed their place in the All-Ireland SFC semi-finals following their 1-14 to 0-14 Super 8s win over Tyrone at Healy Park.
A gripping encounter at the Omagh venue stretched the All-Ireland champions to the limit, and they had to call on all their experience and class to make it over the line, with the help of a second half James McCarthy goal.
For the Red Hands, the Ulster derby against Donegal is a winner-takes-all affair, with a last four spot up for grabs in what promises to be a desperate fight for survival
Three Dean Rock points helped Dublin to a 0-7 to 0-5 interval lead, with most of Tyrone’s scores coming from defenders, the best of them from Michael McKernan.
McCarthy netted a Dublin goal five minutes into the second half, and the All-Ireland champions led all the way to the finish, despite a late Red Hand flourish.
Tyrone were ahead by the 11th minute, Peter Harte collecting Ronan McNamee’s return pass to send over his second score.
Dean Rock had earlier edged the Dubs ahead, and he had the sides level from a free, before a brilliant Jack McCaffrey score regained the lead for the Sam Maguire Cup holders midway through the first half.
Both sides got serious numbers behind the ball, with the Dubs highly effective in pressing the man in possession, exemplified by two terrific turnovers by full forward Paul Mannion deep in his own half, one a perfectly timed tackle on Cathal McShane, the other an interception.
And Jim Gavin’s side were faster on the break than a Red Hand side famed for its counter-attacking.
But as the game wore on, defenders Michael McKernan, Frank Burns and Tiernan McCann did begin to break the lines with some success, and it was McKernan’s assist that sent McCann through to bring the sides level.
The narrowed pitch, with a couple of metres trimmed off either side, restricted the Dubs expansive game, but they were nevertheless to recycle ball patiently and get their shooters into position, with Brian Howard and Philly McMahon picking off scores from distance.
Stephen Cluxton, forced to go long in the early stages, began to get to grips with his kick-outs, launching attacks from deep, and when Rock made it doubles scores at 0-6 to 0-3, it was looking good for the boys in blue.
But with their front men well tied up, Tyrone were able to craft scores from deep, and two more scores from defenders, Burns and McKernan, with a gem, narrowed the gap to one.
John Small’s score sent the Dubs in with a 0-7 to 0-5 interval advantage, and as Tyrone committed more men forward, Ciaran Kilkenny was able to find more space in which to express his creativity.
He played a central role in the 40th minute goal netted by James McCarthy at the second attempt, after his initial shot had been saved by Niall Morgan.
With Kilkenny orchestrating from deep, Dublin were able to starve their opponents of possession, but often ran out of road for the final pass.
But the introduction of Kevin McManamon and Cormac Costello gave them more directness, and their freshness added to the growing pressure on the Red Hands.
When Tyrone did get forward, they found Jonny Cooper in inspired form at the back for the champions, and long before the finish, the home side was living off scraps.
Brian Fenton imposed himself on the midfield battle as Rock pushed Dublin into a five points lead and Cian O’Sullivan finding space going forward.
But Tyrone threw everything into attack in the final 10 minutes, substitutes Kieran McGeary (2) and Harry Loughran pulling back points in a thrilling finish, before Paul Flynn claimed the final score of the game to seal a three-point win.
Tyrone: N Morgan; M McKernan (0-01), R McNamee, HP McGeary; T McCann (0-01), M Donnelly, F Burns (0-01), C Cavanagh, P Hampsey; N Sludden, P Harte (0-03, 2f) C Meyler; C McShane (0-02), R Donnelly, C McAliskey (0-02, 1 ’45).
Subs: R Brennan for McNamee (35 + 1), M Bradley (0-01) for McAliskey (51), K McGeary (0-02) for Burns (53), D McClure for Cavanagh (60), H Loughran (0-01) for Meyler (64), R O’Neill for Sludden (71)
Dublin: S Cluxton; E Murchan, P McMahon (0-01), J Cooper: B Howard (0-01), C O’Sullivan, J Small (0-01); J McCarthy (1-00); B Fenton; N Scully, C Kilkenny (0-02), C O’Callaghan; D Rock (0-06, 4f), P Mannion, J McCaffrey (0-01).
Subs: C Costello for Mannion (45), K McManamon (0-01) for Scully (50), M Fitzsimons for McMahon (56), P Flynn (0-01) for Howard (60), D Daly for Small (64), MD Macauley for McCarthy (67)
Referee: D Coldrick (Meath).
