Tyrone's defiant march through the All Ireland Football Qualifiers continues - but at a heavy cost.

In overcoming the feisty challenge of Westmeath at Healy Park, Omagh, Mickey Harte's side lost the Cavanagh brothers, Sean and Colm, to injuries that will limit their involvement in the remainder of the drive to land a third All Ireland crown.

Sean was stretchered off in the first-half with shoulder and arm injuries after falling heavily while Colm, who ironically had taken his brother's place from the substitutes' bench, was helped off shortly afterwards with what is understood to be a broken collar-bone.

The dual blow tested Tyrone's resources and character yet they still managed to come up trumps against their midland opponents who recovered from a shaky start only to press the self-destruct button midway through the second-half when defenders Damien Healy and Doran Harte were sent off by referee Padraig Hughes, who on occasions certainly did not endear himself to the home fans.

From then on Tyrone, with skipper Brian Dooher a dynamic leader, Tommy McGuigan on fire up front and Brian McGuigan a creative force throughout, took control and booked their passage in round three.

Tommy McGuigan's contribution of six points underlined his coolness, poise and accuracy while Dooher's work-rate and two spectacular scores from play emphasised just how invaluable he is to Tyrone's cause.

When the Red Hands led by 0-4 to 0-1 by the 11th minute - McGuigan was half-way to his overall points haul even by then - they looked as if they might boss the game completely.

But Westmeath's familiar stubborn streak surfaced and with John Keane, Doran Harte and Michael Ennis combining to rein in the home attack, they mounted a spirited response that was cemented when Ennis raced in to fire home a 29th minute goal after the dangerous Dennis Glennon had touched a through ball into his path.

Leading by 1-5 to 0-6 at the break, Westmeath had a rather more comfortable demeanour but even without the imposing Sean Cavanagh, Tyrone mounted a stur

dy renaissance from the 39th to the 47th minutes during which they scored four points without reply from Davy Harte, Tommy McGuigan and Enda McGinley (2).

And when Dooher continued the spree with another score in the 60th minute following the twin dismissals of Healy and Harte, Tyrone had taken a firm grip on the game. It was a grip they were never to lose as Westmeath, visibly wilting in the searing heat, were unable to plug the gaps despite the valiant efforts of midfield substitute David Duffy, John Smyth and Dennis Glennon.

Joe McMahon, Raymond Mulgrew, Owen Mulligan and Damien McCaul were all summoned from the Tyrone bench to provide further impetus to their strategy as they eventually left Westmeath in their slipstream.

The visitors scored just twice in the second-half when Martin Flanagan, back from injury but not his usual authoritative self, pointed from a '45' and Glennon fired over a late score. But it was Tyrone's day although their victory celebrations were understandably muted following the Cavanagh family setbacks.

Tyrone scorers: T McGuigan (0-6, 0-2 frees), E McGinley, B Dooher (0-2 each), D Harte, R Mellon, M Penrose, D McCaul (0-1 each).

Westmeath scorers: M Ennis (1-0), D Dolan (0-3, all frees), D Glennon (0-2, 0-1 free), M Flanagan (0-1, '45'), D Harte, J Smith (0-1 each).

TYRONE: J Devine; R McMenamin, Justin McMahon, P J Quinn; D Harte, C Gormley, P Jordan; R Mellon, E McGinley; B Dooher, B McGuigan, T McGuigan; M Penrose, S Cavanagh, C McCullagh. Substitutes: C Cavanagh for S Cavanagh (34 mins), O Mulligan for McCullagh (46 mins), Joe McMahon for Penrose (54 mins), R Mulgrew for C Cavanagh (58 mins), D McCaul for Quinn (64 mins).

WESTMEATH: G Connaughton; F Boyle, C Gavin, J Keane; M Ennis, D Heavin, D Healy; D O'Donoghue, M Flanagan; D Dolan, J Smyth, D Harte; A Mangan, Denis Glennon, David Glennon. Substitutes: D Bannon for Mangan (24 mins), D Duffy for David Glennon (45 mins), F Wilson for Bannon (49 mins), S Quinn for Smyth (69 mins), , W Murtagh for Boyle (70 mins).

Referee: P Hughes (Armagh).