ANOTHER step on the road, but questions remain over Tyrone's readiness for a serious assault on Gaelic football's Holy Grail. The Sam Maguire Cup holders, gripped by a crippling injury crisis, finally shook off the bold and courageous challenge of little Louth at Healy Park. But more difficult days lie ahead for Tyrone, who go into today's second round qualifier draw in the knowledge that they must face into another big game next weekend without a handful of their most valuable players.

The home side managed just two points in the second half, but they did enough to ensure that Louth were unable to repeat the sort of rousing comeback that had set Navan alight last weekend. It was quite an explosive start from Tyrone. After Darren Clarke had given Louth the lead from an early free, Mickey Harte's side slipped into overdrive, and hit 1-6 without replay between the third and 12th minutes.

The recalled Colm McCullagh hit two excellent points from play, and in the sixth minute a sweeping move involving Martin Penrose, Colin Holmes an Ryan Mellon ended with Enda McGinley, making his first start since last year's All Ireland final, punching to the net. This was like the Tyrone of old, pushing forward with purpose and players in support, and the Louth defence was constantly on the back foot.

Owen Mulligan was twice on target, and a gem from Sean Cavanagh helped them to a 1-6 to 0-1 lead. But the injury jinx struck again, and within midfielder Holmes was carried off after suffering a knee injury on 13 minutes and centre-back Conor Gormley was forced out with a shoulder injury. Even without these two lynchpins, the All Ireland champions continued to dominate their opponents in every sector.

Ryan Mellon was making a massive impact as a hardworking link man in the mould of injured skipper Brian Dooher, and when he collected a cross-field pass from Penrose to split the posts, Tyrone fans in the 11,250-strong Healy Park crowd were in fine voice.

There was a scare in stoppage time when Mark Stanfield sent Ray Finnegan clear, but keeper John Devine responded with a superb save.

Stanfield drilled the resultant 45 between the posts, but Tyrone were coasting, 10 points clear at the break on 110 to 0-3.

They had allowed an eight points lead to slip last day out, but this time there was to be no mistake from a focused and fiercely driven Tyrone side. With a slight breeze in their favour, however, the Louth made a promising start to the second half, narrowing the gap with scores from Mark Brennan and substitute Aaron Hoey, before Stanfield curled over an inspirational effort from close to the sideline. Joe McMahon, in the game at midfield, displayed his defensive qualities with a perfectly timed tackle to deny the dangerous Mark Brennan as he drive through the middle Tyrone's efforts to reimpose themselves on the contest were stifled by Peter McGinnity and John O'Brien at half-back, but they did get the crowd going again with an eye-catching score, Penrose finishing a net move involving Mulgrew, McGinley and Mulligan But Tyrone were reduced to 14 men with 15 minutes to play when Ryan Mellon picked up a second yellow card.Louth were right back in it in the 58th minute when goalkeeper John Devine failed to deal with a dropping delivery, and the tireless Paddy Keenan nipped in to bundle the ball home.

Now it was 1-11 to 1-7, and there was a flicker of hope for the Leinster men. But Sean Cavanagh was still running with the boundless energy he had been displaying all afternoon, and Tyrone composed themselves to close out the game .

TYRONE J Devine; P McConnell, R McMenamin, C McGinley; M McGee, D Harte, C Gormley; P Jordan, C Holmes; S Cavanagh (0-1), R Mellon (0-2), R Mulgrew; E McGinley (1-0), M Penrose (0-2), O Mulligan (0-2, 0-1 free), C McCullagh (0-5, 1 free) Subs J McMahon for Holmes, C Gourley for Gormley

LOUTH S Reynolds; D Brennan, C Goss, J Carr; R Finnegan, P McGinnity, J Neary; M Farrelly, P Keenan (1-0); C Grimes, M Brennan (0-1), J O'Brien; JP Rooney, M Stan"eld (0-2), D Clarke (0-2, 0-1 free) Subs A Hoey (0-2, 0-1 free) for Neary, B White for Grimes, T O'Brien for Clarke, A Page for D Brennan, M Fanning for Rooney Referee G O Conamha (Galway)