Tyrone saved by late point

A minor semi-final speckled with drama finished in suitably dramatic style when Tyrone pulled an equaliser out of the bag with just seconds left to play. Corner forward Mark Harte took responsibility and was rewarded for his bravery with a shot that sailed between the posts well into injury time.

Trailing by three points with five minutes left, Tyrone had looked a beaten team. A point in the 56th minute narrowed the gap but they failed to score again until the 60th minute when corner forward Stephen O'Neill pointed.

Now needing just one, a move involving substitutes Kevin Hughes and Darren O'Hanlon ended with Harte, undoubtedly the right man for this crisis situation - he had shown a sweet left foot all through.

But if Harte gets the commendation for moral courage, Kerry centre half forward Noel Kennelly - son of multi-medal winner Tim - gets it for virtuosity. Also operating with the left foot, he kicked a series of stunning points, beginning with a monumental effort from distance after nine minutes.

He threatened to dismantle Tyrone on his own in the second half, showing lovely technique - and the power to match it. He scored four in this period, one a monster free from the hand that went over via the top of the crossbar. The highlight, however, was an effort from near the Hogan Stand sideline, Kennelly driving it with the outside of his boot, the ball floating over in a perfect arc.

Tyrone started well and led by three points after six minutes. Both sides had missed goal chances by then, O'Neill driving wide across the face of the goal from a tight angle and Kerry corner forward Paul Galvin then hitting the butt of the post from point blank range - a major let-off for Tyrone.

Their good fortune only lasted until the 20th minute, however, Kerry full forward Bernard O'Connor deflecting the flight of a Kevin Lynch free to the net.

Kerry led by that goal at half-time, 1-6 to 0-6, and were still leading by that margin in the 45th minute when a high lob from Hughes invited Hobbart off his line. Tyrone full forward Richard Thornton got a fist to it and Harte ushered it to an empty net from close range.

Those Kennelly points - three in a row - put Kerry back in control but they stepped off the pedal, tried to defend their lead, and now must do it all again.

Kerry: N Hobbart; M Beckett, T McKenna, N Corbett; S O'Sullivan, J Hegarty (0-1), P McCarthy; M O'Shea, J Sugrue (capt); W Harmon, N Kennelly (0-6, two frees), T Kennelly (0-2); P Galvin, B O'Connor (1-1), K Lynch (0-1). Subs: S McGinley for Sugrue (23 mins), R O'Connor for Harmon (51 mins).

Tyrone: G Maguire; K O'Brien, C McGinley, B Donnelly; A Ball (0-1), C Gourley, D McCrossan (capt, 0-1); C McAnallen, C Martin; J Campbell, B McGuigan (0-1), S Donnelly; M Harte (1-5, four frees), R Thornton, S O'Neill (0- 1). Subs: K Hughes (0-1) for S Donnelly (27 mins), D O'Hanlon (0-1) for Campbell (half-time), B O'Neill for McAnallen (51 mins).

Referee: J Bannon (Longford).