It was a superb contest between two sides who gave it everything that they had in pursuit of a semi final place and in the end Down edged the verdict although on their display the champions deserved another replay.
Already without injured trio Enda McGinley, Owen Mulligan and Raymond Mulgrew, Tyrone were dealt another blow when playmaker Brian McGuigan was ruled out after failing to recover from a rib injury picked up in the original encounter.
Without key players like these, most sides in the country would struggle but Tyrone showed enough on Saturday night to suggest that they can perhaps make an impact in the forthcoming qualifiers.
With less than five minutes of normal time to play Tyrone appeared destined for the exit gate as they trailed by four points but they staged a rousing fight back with Tommy McGuigan very much to the fore.
The Ardboe man had come off the bench late on and he landed his side's last five points of the contest including a real pressure effort with the last kick of the game to force extra time.

Resistance

Within six minutes of the start of extra time McGuigan, Sean Cavanagh, Philip Jordan and Colm McCullagh had all raised the umpire's white flag as Tyrone kicked eight consecutive points and they looked to have broken the back of the Down resistance.
But a rare mistake at the back from Ryan McMenamin allowed Benny Coulter to plunder the only goal of the game and that turned the game back in favour of the hosts.
At the final whistle both sets of players were literally out on their feet and as the Down supporters flooded onto the field it demonstrated just what this win meant to the Mourne county as they picked up their first senior championship win over the Red Hands since 1999.
While obviously disappointing, there are still some positives to be taken from a Tyrone point of view and if they can regroup then there is no reason why they can't enjoy a good run in the qualifiers.
It will all depend, of course, on the draw although with the likes of Donegal, Monaghan, Meath and Kildare in the same boat as Tyrone it certainly won't be easy.

Breaking

Senior championship debutant PJ Quinn played well in the Tyrone defence as did experienced duo Ciaran Gourley and Philip Jordan. Tyrone struggled in the middle third of the field were Down won a lot of breaking ball while up front Colm McCullagh, Sean Cavanagh and McGuigan all performed well.
After the poor start they had in the drawn game Down were determined to get off on the right foot this time round and Ambrose Rodgers had them ahead inside twenty seconds with a fisted effort. Tyrone though were looking good early on with Moy trio Sean Cavanagh, Colm Cavanagh and Ryan Mellon accounting for their opening five points as they established a 0-5 to 0-2 advantage by the 12th minute.
claims
Tyrone had claims for a penalty turned down when Mellon appeared to be fouled in the box but referee Pat McEnaney only awarded a 13m free which McCullagh converted.
Liam Doyle's free taking took Down back into contention before Tyrone were dealt another injury blow when Colm Cavanagh had to go off due to an ankle injury that he had sustained in the drawn game.
Points from Dan Gordon and Paul Murphy drew Down level but Sean Cavanagh had the final say of the half with a superb point from playing after catching a long ball in from Davy Harte.
A Doyle free brought the sides level before Danny Hughes thumped over a terrific effort from out on the left wing but McCullagh quickly replied at the other end of the field.
Down, though, were on top in midfield and for the first time in the contest they went two ahead through Doyle and Coulter.

Struggling

Tyrone were struggling although they had hard luck for a goal when a brilliant piece of play from Cavanagh saw him fist the ball over his head to put Joe McMahon through but the Omagh man's shot struck the post.
It looked as if it wasn't going to be Tyrone's day as Coulter and Aidan Carr helped Down into a 0-16 to 0-12 lead. Tyrone showed all their experience though to stay in contention with McGuigan reducing the deficit to the minimum with a couple of frees, Down left half back Damien Rafferty getting sent off for a second yellow card offence after fouling Cavanagh.
With time up McGuigan displayed nerves of steel to hoist over a tremendous pressure kick to tie the game at 0-16 apiece and, while Down were able to start extra time with a full complement of players again, the momentum was clearly with Tyrone.
Tyrone started extra time the way that they had ended the normal period with four points on the trot including a Cavanagh peach from an acute angle with his left.
Down, however, showed that they weren't prepared to throw in the towel and it took a timely interception from McMenamin to prevent Murphy from putting Coulter through on goal.

Renewed

Tyrone failed to put their opponents away and points from Carr and Coulter gave the home faithful renewed hope before the latter grabbed a crucial goal, palming the ball to the net after a Carr cross from the right wing slipped from the grasp of McMenamin.
Within twenty seconds of the start of the second period of extra time good work from Cavanagh saw him place McCullagh for a point but amazingly that proved to be the last score of the contest.
Harte and Martin Penrose missed chances to equalise while, right at the death, Coulter almost got another goal.
But, on the night, it was Ross Carr's side who advanced to a semi-final meeting with Armagh.