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Conor Gormley of Tyrone challenges Antrim forward Sean Burke

All-Ireland champions Tyrone saw off a determined Antrim side to win the 2009 Ulster football final at Clones.

Tyrone were 1-8 to 0-2 up in the first half and that was a deficit the gutsy Saffrons simply could not overcome.

Four-times All Star Sean Cavanagh scored a goal and four points from midfield and was man of the match.

Paddy Cunningham scored 11 points for underdogs Antrim who gamely stuck to their task but it was Tyrone who lifted the Anglo-Celt with a six-point win.

Mickey Harte's men deserved their success but credit has to go to Antrim for the way they responded to Tyrone's early onslaught.

Liam Bradley's unfancied side got the first point through a Cunningham free but then Tyrone took over.

Ryan McMenamin fisted over, Tommy McGuigan landed a long-range effort and Joe McMahon sent over a third point to get the Tyrone bandwagon rolling.

The Red Hands sliced through Antrim again and Cavanagh took Stephen O'Neill's pass to net a classy goal.

Joe McMahon added a score before Antrim temporarily stemmed the tide with another Cunningham free.

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Back came Tyrone with Owen Mulligan, Kevin Hughes and Tommy McGuigan all landing points from play.

It looked all over, but Antrim got the last the scores of the first half through Aodhan Gallagher and Cunningham (2).

Tyrone came out after the break and rattled off three straight points through Mulligan, McGuigan and Cavanagh.

Once again Antrim hit back with three scores from Cunningham and one by Michael McCann.

Scores were exchanged fairly evenly after that with Antrim really needing a goal to make a real contest of it.

Having been overpowered so dramatically early on, the Saffrons are entitled to be satisfied they did not let themselves down against the team many rate as the best in Ireland.

Tyrone: J Devine; P J Quinn, Justin McMahon, R McMenamin (0-1); D Harte (0-1), C Gormley, P Jordan; K Hughes (0-2), S Cavanagh (1-4); B Dooher (capt), T McGuigan (0-2) , Joe McMahon (0-2), M Penrose, S O'Neill, O Mulligan (0-3). Substitutes: E McGinley for McGuigan (50 mins), C Cavanagh for Dooher (54), C Gourley for McMenamin (65), B McGuigan for Penrose (67), C McCullagh for O'Neill (67). Yellow cards: McMenamin (12 mins), Cavanagh (41 mins0, McGinley (61).

Antrim: P Graham; C Brady, A McClean, K O'Boyle; T Scullion, J Crozier, J Loughrey; M McCann (0-2), A Gallagher (0-1); T O'Neill, K Brady, N McKeever; P Cunningham (capt) (0-11, 0-6 frees), S Burke, T McCann. Substitutes: K Niblock for Brady (26 mins), C Murray for Burke (44), C Close (0-1)for McKeever (50), D O'Hagan for O'Neill (64), S McGreevey for Graham (66). Yellow cards: Scullion (3 mins), McKeever (100, Murray (55)

Referee: P Hughes (Armagh)

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