ATTEMPTING to make any comparisons between this league lie at a dank Omagh yesterday and this year's controversial All-Ireland semi-final was a worthless pursuit. Too many principals from the big game were missing from both sides: only four players from Meath and nine from Tyrone who played in August were involved this time.

Shamefully, though, the home supporters in the 6,000 crowd provided a reminder of the summer fare by persistently booing Martin O'Connell at every turn.

Registering their first win in the current League campaign, which Tyrone manager Danny Ball reckons will put his team back into the chase for honours gave Tyrone more satisfaction than beating a depleted Meath team.

"The points we won today are the main consideration. Meath were weakened and poor," he said. Peter Canavan, who was just a spectator because of a broken bone in his foot, concurred. "Meath were poor. It was no big deal beating them today, but we played well and the win is going to raise us.

Both Meath and Tyrone have now accumulated three points from their four pre-Christmas games. "Maybe it's drifting away from us now," said Meath manager Sean Boylan. "We would have liked the points today but still it's all to play for in the New Year.

Tyrone had wind advantage in" the first half and from as early as the 14th second when Seamus McCallan knocked over their first point they looked better organised in defence and attack.

Ger Cavlan enjoyed his role as a roaming full-forward, Adrian Cush regularly popped up on the left, McCallan initiated attacks and Brian Gormley and Ciaran McBride regularly took up excellent positions.

Meath did not manage to open their account until the 17th minute with a Ned Kearney point, their only score of a first half, in which Tyrone scored 1-10. Jody Devine was committed to foraging deep and Tommy Dowd at full-forward was being starved of the low ball he thrives on. The Meath attack, in fact, played in a manner that often suggested they were footballing strangers.

The pattern did not change for Meath in the second half, despite the brilliant move that enabled Tommy Dowd to volley a consolation goal with 11 minutes to go. The move was set up by Paddy. Reynolds, whose lofted shot found Michael Nestor on the left. The Meath left half-forward floated a well-weighted shot across the face, of the goalmouth for Dowd to smash to the net with both hands.

Meath were lucky enough not to be beaten out of sight. Fortunately for them, three goal-scoring opportunities created by a more eager Tyrone in the first half were somehow not finished to the net.

Ironically, it was Cavlan who muffed the first chance after taking a scoring pass from Cush he fouled the ball on the turn. Then Martin O'Connell somehow got in the way to block a worthy effort by McBride. Later still a beautiful cross by McBride gave Dooher a chance, but the ball was cleared by the Meath defence.

Evan Kelly's move from centre back to attack did make an obvious difference for Meath after the break - he reduced the arrears, with two early points, one of which could as easily gone under the bar.

Tyrone's reply was classy. Cush gathered in midfield, slipped the ball to McBride and ran on for the return pass to shoot a point.