Gerard Cavlan produced a man-of-the-match display for Tyrone

Antrim 1-9 1-17 Tyrone

Tyrone outclassed a limited Antrim outfit in Sunday's Bank of Ireland Ulster Football Semi-Final at Casement Park.

Mickey Harte's team controlled the contest throughout although poor finishing meant that the Saffrons kept down the margin to respectable proportions.

However, Owen Mulligan's 68th minute goal ended any slim hopes of an Antrim fightback and ensured Tyrone's place in the Ulster decider against either Fermanagh or Down on 13 July.

The brilliant Peter Canavan topped the scoring honours with seven points but the great man's performance was bettered by Gerard Cavlan's outstanding midfield display.

The Dungannon man showed that spectacular centrefield catching can remain a part of gaelic football and his overall workrate was remarkable.

Kevin Madden, who was Antrim's best forward by some distance, hit the opening score of the game in the second minute but helped by two Canavan scores, Tyrone led by 0-3 to 0-2 after 12 minutes.

Antrim then got a fortunate break when referee Gerry Kinneavy adjudged that Tyrone goalkeeper John Devine had overcarried the ball in his parallelogram.

TV replays appeared to indicate that Devine had been fouled and the goalkeeper certainly appeared to take a bang on the knee after tangling with Darren O'Hare.

Peter Canavan hit seven points for Tyrone

Madden sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to give Antrim an undeserved 1-2 to 0-3 lead after 16 minutes.

Stephen O'Neill should have replied with an immediate Tyrone goal but with only Sean McGreevy to beat, he sliced his shot well wide.

However points from Mulligan and Canavan put Tyrone on terms by the 20th minute and with the Antrim marking slack to say the least, the Red Hand County hit four of the next five scores.

Tyrone led by four at the break and they maintained their superiority in the third quarter.

By the 51st minute, Tyrone were six clear at 0-15 to 1-6 although Tyrone then suffered a blow when Stephen O'Neill had to leave the field with an ankle injury.

A couple of Madden points then left Antrim only four points behind with three minutes remaining but Mulligan's 68th minute goal and a further Canavan point gave the scoreboard a more representative look.

In Sunday's Leinster Football semi-final Laois shocked Dublin 0-16 to 0-14 at Croke Park.

Kerry and Limerick claimed comfortable wins over Tipperary and Clare to qualify for the Munster Football Final while Offaly defeated Dublin in the Hurling Qualifiers.

Antrim: S McGreevy; G Adams (0-1), J McKeever, N Ward; S Kelly, T Convery, A Finnegan; M McCrory, M McCarry; J Quinn, K Brady (0-1), K McGourty; P McCann, D O'Hare (0-1), K Madden (1-5). Subs: R O'Loan (0-1) for P McCann 28 mins, C Kelly for M McCrory 65.

Tyrone: J Devine, C Lawn, C Holmes, R McMenamin, C Gormley, D McCrossan (0-1), P Jordan, K Hughes, G Cavlan (0-1), B Dooher, B McGuigan, S O'Neill (0-2), M Harte (0-3), Peter Canavan (0-7), O Mulligan (1-3). Subs: C Gourley for C Lawn 70, E McGinley for S O'Neill 58.