Nicky Rackard Cup: Tyrone 3-14, Longford 3-13 A spirited comeback by Longford in the final quarter when Tyrone led by nine points almost caught the Ulster side cold.

Longford scored 2-7 in 22 minutes but trailed by a single point as the final whistle sounded in this Nicky Rackard qualifying tie at Kingspan Breffni Park yesterday.

Tyrone dominated the opening quarter but found it difficult to shake off a Longford side who had beaten Armagh in extra-time in their previous game.

Tyrone led 1-5 to 0-2 by the 13th minute, Cathal McErlean scoring 1-4 of that, but Garth Ghee kept Longford in contention with a goal at the end of the first half, which ended 1-7 to 1-5. Aidan Taggart goaled for Tyrone after just 38 seconds of the second half, and within 10 minutes a further goal and a point from Terry McIntosh left Longford trailing by nine points. But points from Brian Stakelum, Seán Browne and Eoin Donnellan and two goals from substitute Joe O'Brien left the game on a knife edge.

TYRONE: G Byrne; S McGurk, D Maguire, N O'Neill; B Winters, J Kelly, S O'Neill; M Grogan (0-2), P Hughes; T McIntosh (1-1), V Owens (0-2), J Kerr (0-1); A Taggart (1-1), J O'Neill (0-1), C McErlean (1-6). Subs: R Winters for S O'Neill (53 mins); P McErlean for A Taggart (58 mins); C O'Neill for J Kerr (60 mins).

LONGFORD: P Cullen; J McDermott, T Stakelum, F Daly; D Corcoran, Brendan Stakelum, J Minnock; Brian Stakelum (0-2), S Browne (0-1); G Ghee (1-8), R Stakelum, C Finnucane; S Lynam, H O'Kane, E Donnellan (0-2). Subs: Joe O'Brien (2-0) for H O'Kane (40 mins); E Corcoran for J Minnock (49 mins); John O'Brien for T Stakelum (50 mins); C Bracken for C Finnucane (55 mins).

Referee: D Magee (Down).