Tyrone's late flourish at Omagh yesterday earned them a second successive Section C league victory, but only after they had escaped twice as Sligo went hunting for the goal that could have seen them repeat their remarkable win over Dublin.

Relieved at these remarkable letoffs, Tyrone finished with style with a series of spectacular points. Sligo had burst eagerly into attack from the throw-in, but after Paul Taylor had given them the lead from a long range long-range free, they allowed Tyrone to dictate the pace.

The Tyrone attack, which managed two points in the first 15 minutes, had its had a productive period at the start of the second quarter, with points from Brian McGuckin, Fergal Logan and Barry Eccles easing them into a 0-5 to 0-2 lead.

Brian Walsh and Sean Davey narrowed the gap for Sligo and Tyrone led 0-5 to 0-4 at the break.

Both Sligo, through Eamonn O'Hara, and Tyrone, through Damien Gormley, had goal chances which were blasted over early in the second half. The lead was taken by one side and then the other before Ciaran McBride and McGuckin were on target for the Ulster side to give them a lead they were to hold - but only after goalkeeper Finbar McConnell had pulled off a wonderful save from full forward Taylor. Sligo's Ken Killeen then watched agonisingly as his snapshot smashed against the butt of a post.

Tyrone had escaped, and they had that late surge to pull clear.