Tyrone 0-11 1-13 Cork

Tyrone manager Mickey Harte said that his team were not good enough to defeat Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final at Croke Park.

Cork ended Tyrone's hopes of back-to-back All-Ireland titles by overpowering the Red Hands at Croke Park.

The Red Hands suffered a huge blow before the start when Sean Cavanagh was ruled out by a stomach bug.

Tyrone led early on but Cork went on a scoring blitz by hitting an unanswered 1-5 - including Daniel Goulding's goal.

Cork's Alan O'Connor was sent off before half-time but Cork led 1-9 to 0-7 at the break and they were able to snuff out Tyrone in the second half.

BBC's Man-of-the-match Cork's Graham Canty says that his side's good start helped them overcome Tyrone at Croke Park.

The loss of the inspirational Cavanagh before the start was a massive blow to the Red Hands although he was introduced for Enda McGinley 12 minutes into the second half.

Cork's physique was apparent right from the off although Donnacha O'Connor and John Miskella missed early chances.

Ryan McMenamin appeared to have steadied Tyrone nerves when he stormed upfield to slot the opening score and the Red Hands moved ahead again when Stephen O'Neill responded to Paul Kerrigan's point.

However, then came the decisive period of the match as the rampant Rebels hit 1-5 without reply in a remarkable 10-minute period.

The scoring blitz was started by Goulding's fifth-minute goal as he blasted home from close range as the Tyrone defence had no answer to Cork's pace.

606: DEBATE Even if Cavanagh had started, and he was a big loss, Tyrone still would not have pulled it off Cavancheapskate

Paddy Kelly and Pearse O'Neill followed with two scores in as many minutes with moves which could have resulted in further goals with the Cork men content to take their points.

Two more Donnacha O'Connor frees and a Paul Kerrigan point left Cork 1-6 to 0-2 up by the 15th minute and Tyrone were in big trouble.

The Red Hands were able to stem the bleeding in the remainder of the first half as Owen Mulligan slotted two frees and Stephen O'Neill also helped himself to two points.

As a result, Cork's 1-8 to 0-3 lead was cut to 1-9 to 0-7 by the interval and the Red Hands had received a potential lifeline with midfielder O'Connor dismissed after getting his second yellow card before the break.

O'Connor had only himself to blame after his initial cynical trip on McGinley was followed by a clumsy late tackle on Mulligan.

Paul Kerrigan missed a great chance to kill off Tyrone immediately after the break when he fumbled possession with the goal gaping after the ball had come back off the woodwork.

O'Neill's point cut Cork's lead to only four but that was as good as it got for Tyrone.

Cork used their physical power to the maximum effect during the second half to prevent Tyrone from employing their usual free-flowing running game.

Daniel Goulding battles with Tyrone sub Sean O'Neill

A number of referee John Bannon's decisions infuriated the Tyrone players and Graham Canty appeared fortunate to receive only one yellow card after a number of over-robust challenges.

John Miskella also looked decidedly fortunate to only receive a yellow card after an umpire spotted his off-the-ball strike on Tyrone sub Brian McGuigan with 18 minutes left.

But Cork were 1-12 to 0-9 ahead at that stage and one suspects that even losing a second player would not have significantly knocked the Rebels off course.

Almost in desperation, Mickey Harte made several substitutions in the closing 15 minutes with old soldier Brian Dooher replaced and even the normally reliable Conor Gormley hauled off after his most uncomfortable of afternoons.

But a couple of dreadful wides from Davy Harte and the off-colour Joe McMahon around the hour mark summed up Tyrone's day.

Sean Cavanagh tried to rally Tyrone after his introduction but the Cork tackling was tough and perhaps given the benefit of the doubt on a few too many occasions by referee Bannon.

Cavanagh, his heavy perspiration betraying the bug which had clearly gripped the Moy man, went on a last-gasp charge for goal in the first minute of injury-time but his low shot hit the outside of a post and went wide.

A goal at that stage would have set up a grandstand finish but the bald truth was that Cork had been by far the better side, as their tally of 13 wides, including a few shocking misses, indicated.

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Cork: A Quirke; R Carey, M Shields, A Lynch; N O'Leary, G Canty, J Miskella; A O'Connor (0-1), N Murphy; P Kerrigan (0-1), P O'Neill (0-1), P Kelly (0-2); D Goulding (1-1), C O'Neill (0-2), D O'Connor (0-4). Subs: F Goold (0-1) for Goulding 58 mins, J Hayes for Kerrigan 60, M Cussen for O'Connor 66, K O'Connor for O'Leary 69, Cadogan for Miskella 71.

Tyrone: P McConnell, PJ Quinn, C Gormley, R McMenamin (0-1), D Harte (0-1), Justin McMahon, P Jordan (0-1), K Hughes (0-1), E McGinley, B Dooher, S Cavanagh, Joe McMahon, M Penrose (0-1), S O'Neill (0-4), O Mulligan (0-2). Subs: B McGuigan for T McGuigan half-time, S Cavanagh for McGinley 47, Sean O'Neill for Gormley 54, A Cassidy for Dooher 54, C McCullagh for Joe McMahon 70.

Referee: J Bannon (Longford).