Back door stays open for Tyrone

Tyrone 3-19 Roscommon 1-14: Tyrone will have the opportunity to avenge last year’s All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Dublin…

Tyrone 3-19 Roscommon 1-14:Tyrone will have the opportunity to avenge last year's All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Dublin after safely coming through their fourth round qualifier against Roscommon at Croke Park this evening.

Mickey Harte’s side may have struggled to hit their stride in the first-half but an accomplished display after the interval proved the 2008 champions could yet have a major say in the destination of Sam Maguire come September

Roscommon gave as good as they got before the break, and led by four when Karol Mannion stole in behind the Tyrone defence to score his side’s only goal.

Tyrone hit back almost immediately as Sean Cavanagh got the first of two goals to narrow the gap to just a single score at half-time.

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Veterans Brian Dooher and Owen Mulligan came into the fray after the break and Tyrone’s big game experience gradually began to tell as Roscommon’s challenge faded.

Cavanagh, who had struck the crossbar moments earlier, was gifted a second goal after a mix-up in the Roscommon full-back line before Mark Donnelly fired hard and low past Geoffrey Claffey to round off the scoring.

The Ulstermen will now meet Leinster champions Dublin next weekend.