Dublin have reclaimed the All-Ireland Vocational Schools football title after a 37-year gap. It provided a lively curtain-raiser to yesterday's proceedings at Croke Park, and most memorably in the way that Dublin so nearly let it slip.

Holding an eight-point advantage midway through the second half, Tyrone suddenly found new wind and started cutting into the deficit. They reduced the gap to a point inside the last five minutes. And it remained that finely balanced until Seamas Walsh brought Dublin home with his confident free-taking.

Dublin gradually took control of the first half. Walsh gave them the lead on the quarter-hour but they also squandered numerous chances. Dublin's domination did lead to them claiming the game's opening goal on 20 minutes. Sean Brehony chased a loose ball in front of goal and sent the ball flying into the top of the net.

But the momentum swung in the second half. Gerard Toner pressed forward for Tyrone only to find his blasting shot rebound off the post. In the scuffle to clear the ball, Shane Maxwell had the bad fortune to guide it into his own net.

Emmet O'Hanlon then shot three sweet points in a row and the margin was at a minimum. Still, Dublin managed to hold on.

DUBLIN: N Maypother; D Fitzpatrick, S Maxwell (og), A Noxton; C O'Neill, D Magee, S O'Shaughnessy; S Walsh (0-5, four frees), B O'Regan (0-1); D Dolan, M O'Connor (0-3, two frees), M Lyons (0- 1, a free); P Hattie, S Brehany (1-1), A McKelvey. Subs: D Farrell for Hattie (44 mins), E O'Reilly for O'Connor (56).

TYRONE: J Devine; E McCrory, P Bradley, A McSorley; C Mullin, B Maguire, P Quinn; S Quinn, K Hughes (0-1); R Cunningham, E O'Hanlon (0-5), G Toner; S McNeice (0-1), S Mallon (0-2, both frees), M McGeary. Subs: P Daly for Maguire (half-time), C Doris for Cunningham (35 mins), G Haughey for Toner (50).

Referee: G Kinneavy (Roscommon).