Tyrone overcome Dublin to reach the last four

Darragh Canavan salutes a vital Tyrone score late on

Tyrone held their nerve to score a 0-23 to 0-16 win over Dublin in an error-strewn All-Ireland Senior Football Championship quarter-final on Saturday.

In a game which saw both sides struggle with their shooting, it was Malachy O'Rourke's Red Hands who managed to keep their noses in front and pull away in the final minutes to claim a first win at Croke Park since the 2021 All-Ireland final.

Both sides threw everything into what was a bruising encounter, but Dublin's failure to take their chances again came back to bite as they missed with as many chances as they scored.

Tyrone's ability to land two-pointers, especially in the first half when they took four, was a major factor for their win, while their bench also made a significant impact late on to see them over the line.

Tyrone find their distance from range

A two-pointer from a Kieran McGeary free would be the sign of things to come as they would profit from their long-range shooting with the breeze at their backs in the opening 35 minutes.

After Stephen Cluxton replied from a 45 which came after Niall Morgan made a fingertip save from Cormac Costello, it was Peter Teague's turn to split the posts from outside the arc.

Dublin were struggling with their shooting early on as shots were dropped short or sent wide, but Costello was not one of the guilty parties as he landed from free and from play.

Tyrone's long-range ability returned with Peter Harte landing a two, but after Costello replied, Brian O'Leary - a late switch on the Dublin team for Lorcan O'Dell - kicked his first score in county colours and enjoyed it so much he was back for another to tie the game at 0-6 apiece, midway through the opening period.

It was nip and tuck heading into the break with Darragh Canavan and Costello swapping scores before Niall Scully gave Dublin the lead for the first time, only for Tyrone to get back ahead through a second two-pointer from Harte.

Costello and Darren McCurry traded with Peadar O'Cofaigh-Byrne levelling once again, but a late Dublin attack spluttered and Tyrone broke upfield after the hooter with McCurry landing to give the Red Hands a 0-11 to 0-10 lead at the break.

Tyrone's Brian Kennedy gets past Dublin's Brian O'Leary

Both teams passed up decent scoring opportunities early in the second period with Dublin's Cormac Costello pulling a gilt-edged goal chance past the post in the 42nd minute.

Mistakes were beginning to dominate with the greasy conditions not helping matters, but Paddy Small finally got the scoring for the second half under way with a Dublin point to level it up for the fifth and final time, only for Canavan to nudge Tyrone ahead immediately after.

Points from Ciaran Daly and Niall Devlin extended the lead to three and that remained the gap when Con O'Callaghan, sprung from the Dublin bench for the final 20 minutes, made an immediate impact with a score.

Ciaran Kilkenny narrowed the gap to one, but Tyrone always had an answer with Ciaran Daly responding.

Paddy Small brought it back to the minimum again and in the 59th minute, Dublin had a sniff of goal as Luke Breathnach opted to square instead of fisting over, but Niall Morgan read the danger and got there ahead of the lurking Costello.

Both teams were guilty of poor misses, but Dublin more so with 10 shots past the post and six into Morgan's hands a major reason for their undoing, but the gap remained one into the final five minutes when Tyrone broke for home as substitute Ruairi Canavan began a run of six points which included a two-point free from Morgan at the death to see Malachy O'Rourke's men into the last four.

Dublin: S Cluxton (0-1, 1x45); E Murchan, D Byrne, S MacMahon; B Howard, J Small, L Gannon; P O'Cofaigh-Byrne (0-1), K McGinnis; S Bugler, C Kilkenny (0-1), N Scully (0-1); P Small (0-2), C Costello (0-6, 2f), B O'Leary (0-2).

Subs: C Murphy for K McGinnis (44), C O'Callaghan (0-1) for B O'Leary (50), L Breathnach (0-1) for N Scully (57, head injury), T Lahiff for P O'Cofaigh-Byrne (59), R McGarry for S Bugler (65), T Clancy for E Murchan (68)

Tyrone: N Morgan (0-3, 1x2pf, 1x45); C Quinn, P Hampsey, N Devlin (0-1); P Teague (0-2, 1x2p), R Brennan, K McGeary (0-2, 1x2pf); B Kennedy, C Kilpatrick; S O'Donnell, M Donnelly, C Daly (0-2); D McCurry (0-2, 1f), P Harte (0-4, 2x2p), D Canavan (0-3).

Subs: B McDonnell for R Brennan (44), E McElholm (0-1) for D McCurry (52), A Clarke for C Quinn (56), C Meyler for P Teague (59, head injury), R Canavan (0-2) for P Harte (63), M O'Neill for K McGeary (68)

Referee: D Coldrick (Meath)