BBC SPORT | N Ireland | Tyrone squeeze past Wexford

Wexford 0-10 1-9 Tyrone

The return of Peter Canavan proved to be the inspiration for Tyrone as they surmounted a difficult All-Ireland qualifier in Wexford.

Canavan missed Tyrone's Ulster Championship defeat against Armagh recently and his absence was sorely felt.

But back in action on Saturday, he once again showed some masterful touches as the NFL Champions edged into the next round.

It was not a classic performance by any means from the Red Hand County.

Difference

But in the end they had too much in reserve for a Wexford side who never gave up trying, and caused a few nerves in the Tyrone camp in the final minutes.

In the end it was a first-half goal from Kevin Hughes that proved to be the difference between the teams.

Canavan was buzzing right from the off when he palmed the ball against the post in the second minute.

Wicklow did managed to open the scoring when Mattie Forde rifled over a point.

But once Hughes and Brian Dooher gave Tyrone the lead, Wexford were always behind to the end.

Tyrone's Sean Cavanagh forces his way past Wexford's Niall Murphy
Sean Cavanagh (right) and Niall Murphy in action

Canavan was even able to miss a penalty when Sean Cavanagh was fouled going for goal.

Canavan's spot kick was well stopped by Ollie Murphy.

But Canavan responeded with the first of his four points.

Not content with that Canavan set up Hughes for his goal.

The Tyrone skipper won possession and under pressure threaded a pass to Hughes he struck a left-footed shot past Murphy.

Forde was Wexford's best player as he floated around causing problems and picking up points that kept Wexford within reasonable distance.

Fight

Laim O'Brien also added to Wexford's fightback as Tyrone failed to knock home their advantage.

Indeed it took all of eight minutes for Tyrone to score after the break when Ger Cavlan found the range.

But Tyrone could not stretch away and although Canavan, Cavangh and Dooher all knocked over points, Wexford still had plenty of fight in them.

Again it was Forde with a couple of points and another by John Hegarty left Tyrone winning by two points at the end.

Longford 1-16 0-14 Down

A brillaint first-half performance saw Longford lower Down's colours and led to the resignation of boss Peter McGrath.

Outstanding was Longford quiock midfielder Paul Barden who fired over three point in the first period and most unlucky not to grab a goal.

It was Barden's younger brother David who scored the all-improtant goal in the 14th minuite that virtually wrapped up the game.

Longford built up a commanding 1-10 to 0-6 lead at the break before Down started a fightback on the resumption.

Laim Doyle notched four points for Down. Michael Walsh three, while Stephen King and Ben Coulter grabbed two apiece.

Limerick 1-15 2-12 Cavan (Aet)

There was plenty of drama in Limerick where Cavan came back from the dead to grab a replay.

But there was disaster for Cavan when they lost their under-21 captain Michael Brides with a broken thigh.

The teams were level at the end of normal time thanks to a superb goal by Pierce McKenna.

In extra time Finbar O'Reilly and Gerald Pierson had point for Cavan.

Limerick were reduced to 14 men during the second half of extra tmie when John Quane received his second yellow.

But the home side hung on when Stephen Kelly grabbed the equaliser two minutes from the end.

red-carded

All-Ireland Qualifiers:
Waterford 3-11 3-19 Roscommon (Result)
Antrim 1-10 0-14 Westmeath (Result)
Monaghan 1-8 2-11 Louth (Result)
Carlow 0-9 0-18 Laois (Result)
Wicklow 2-22 2-6 London (Result)
Longford 1-16 0-14 Down (Result)
Limerick 1-16 2-13 Cavan (Replay: Limerick 2-08 0-11 Cavan)
Wexford 0-10 1-9 Tyrone (Result)


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