EVEN the best players have the kind of a day which suggests that they are mere mortals after all. For a long time in a sodden Clones yesterday, that seemed to be what was in store for Peter Canavan. Then, with only two minutes of the second half gone, he swept in majestically for a beautifully-taken goal which illustrated just how special this man is.

As things turned out, it was the most important score of the match and represented the difference between the two sides at the end.

And so, for the first time in 20 years an Ulster county managed to put two provincial championship titles back to back. It is a feat which had not been performed since Derry won in 1975 and 1976.

It must be said that Tyrone deserved their victory, although there were times when their position seemed precarious. After a bright start which suggested that Canavan was going to tear the Down defence apart on his own, the men from the Mournes settled down and managed to reduce a five-point deficit to one by halftime.

Earlier, the heavens had opened and rain fell fiercely for nearly 15 minutes, soaking a near-capacity attendance of some 33,000, including the patrons of the covered stand whose roof sprung leaks all over the place.

For all that, the conditions were far from ideal. The players deserve the highest praise for providing a highly competitive, entertaining match which at times provided some of the best championship football we have seen this year.

Throughout the afternoon the Tyrone defence played sound, solid football with the Devlins Paul and Fay, and fullback Chris Lawn providing a good foundation for the rest of the defence, and goalkeeper Finbar McConnell producing two first class saves when they were most needed.

The first of these saves, in the middle of the first half from Ross Carr, halted a Down revival and the second, in the 28th minute from James McCartan, was equally vital to Tyrone's welfare.

By that stage, Down had lost their excellent defender D J Kane with concussion and their cause seemed forlorn. His replacement, Ciaran McCabe, fitted snugly in to the scheme of things straight away and played a significant part in Down's revival.

If Tyrone had outstanding players such as Brian Dooher, Ciaran McBride and Peter Canavan, then Down can be happy that Greg Blaney and Greg McCartan and Michael Magill played a major part.

James McCartan tried might and main to get his attacking colleagues moving, but both he and Mickey Linden both had a frustrating day that they will rather forget.

With Tyrone racing into a 0-6, 0-1 lead, Down seemed bewildered, but they fought back courageously and had reduced that to a mere point at the break, mainly from the frees of Greg McCartan

When they were hit with Canavan's goal at the start of the second half they might have been forgiven for a collapse, but with Blaney playing a Trojan part, they kept plugging away. Unfortunately, Blaney and McCartan had to drop too deep in order to get a supply of the ball and this allowed the Tyrone midfielders to drive forward to some effect.

Although Down managed to get within a goal of the winners on a number of occasions, the Tyrone defence played superbly and moved the ball brilliantly out of defence, snuffing out Down's most menacing attacks.

At the end, their supporters were ecstatic as they qualified for a tilt at Meath in the semi-final.