Mayo 1-19
Tyrone 3-14
TYRONE PICKED UP the win in MacHale Park after an entertaining encounter that sent Mayo into Division Two for the first time in over two decades.
Mickey Harte’s men took their chances and rattled home three goals over the contest, each of them coming at vital times to stretch out their lead and keep Mayo at arms length.
Even down the closing quarter which saw Mayo really put the foot down and try to get the win they needed to avoid the drop, Tyrone were able to find that little bit extra they needed to keep their noses in front with two points from Darren McCurry and one from Conor McKenna proved vital in keep the Mayo fight back at bay.
The vital third Tyrone goal came eight minutes into the second half when a poor Mayo kick out was intercepted by McKenna who finished to the net from close range.
That score put Tyrone 3-10 to 0-10 up and looking good for victory, Mayo did manage to close the gap back to six points by the second half water break thanks to points from Conor Loftus, Diarmuid O’Connor and Darren Coen.
The goal that Mayo needed to really get back into the game came early in the third quarter when Tommy Conroy netted and from then on it was game on and going to go down to the wire. Mayo kept chipping away with points through James Durcan and Ryan O’Donoghue – but Tyrone were always able to keep themselves that bit in front.
Tyrone went in leading by eight points at the break on a score of 2-9 to 0-7, bagging two goals after the water break.
Conor McKenna netted just after the resumption from the water break after a Niall Morgan kick-out was missed by a few players before Darragh Canavan was able to move the ball on to Mattie Donnelly, who flicked into the path of McKenna who put it past David Clarke.
That score put Tyrone 1-5 to 0-4 up and a brace of Peter Harte points stretched their lead out to six as they punished Mayo with direct ball into their full forward line and strong running from the back.
Their second goal was thing of beauty with McKenna playing a sweet ball into Canavan taking out the Mayo defence and Canavan made no mistake with a sweet finish to the bottom corner of the net.
Scorers for Mayo: Tommy Conroy (1-3), Darren Coen (0-5, 3f), James Durcan (0-3, 3f), Diarmuid O’Connor (0-2, 1f) Ryan O’Donoghue (0-2. 1m), Patrick Durcan (0-1), Matthew Ruane (0-1), Conor Loftus (0-1), Eoghan McLaughlin (0-1),
Scorers for Tyrone: Conor McKenna (2-2, 1f), Darragh Cananvan (1-1), Darren McCurry (0-4, 3f), Peter Harte (0-3), Matthew Donnelly (0-2), Kevin McGeary (0-1), Michael McKernan (0-1, 1m)
Mayo
1. David Clarke (Ballina Stephenites)
2. Oisín Mullin – (Kilmaine)
3. Stephen Coen – (Hollymount/Carramore)
4. Lee Keegan – (Westport)
5. Patrick Durcan (Castlebar Mitchels)
6. Kevin McLoughlin (Knockmore)
7. Eoghan McLaughlin (Westport)
8. Matthew Ruane (Breaffy)
9. Conor Loftus – (Crossmolina Deel Rovers)
10. Diarmuid O’Connor (Ballintubber)
11. Mark Moran (Westport)
12. Bryan Walsh (Ballintubber)
13. Tommy Conroy (The Neale)
14. Aidan O’Shea (Breaffy)
26. Darren Coen (Hollymount-Carramore)
Substitutes:
22. Fionn McDonagh (Westport) for Walsh
24. Ryan O’Donoghue (Belmullet) for Moran
17. Padraig O’Hora (Ballina Stephenites) for McLoughlin
23. James Durcan (Castlebar Mitchels) for D Coen
15. Paul Towey (Charlestown) for McLaughlin
Tyrone
1. Niall Morgan (Edendork)
2. Liam Rafferty (Garbally)
3. Ronan McNamee (Aghyaran)
4. Hugh Pat McGeary (Pomeroy)
5. Tiernan McCann (Killylogher)
6. Kieran McGeary (Pomeroy)
7. Michael McKernan (Coalisland)
8. Brian Kennedy (Derrylaughan)
24. Michael O’Neill (Ardobe)
10. Matthew Donnelly (Trillick)
11. Conor McKenna (English)
12. Darren McCurry (Edendork)
13. Peter Harte (Errigal Ciarain)
22. Darragh Canavan (Errigal Ciarain)
15. Conor Meyler (Omagh)
Substitutes:
9. Frank Burns (Pomeroy) for O’Neill
17. Kyle Coney (Adrobe) for Kennedy
26. Niall Sludden (Dromore) for Canavan
18. Niall Kelly (Errigal Ciarain) for McGeary
23. David Mulgrew (Ardobe) for McCurry
Referee: Niall Cullen (Fermanagh)
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But they were AI champions last week???
@Harry Corry: Everyone outside of Mayo hyped them up. Every mayo fan could see our defence was wide open against Galway. Conceded 17 scores, same thing again today but Tyrone much better defensively than Galway. It’s about finding the balance. Horan always plays attacking football. It was the exact same in his first stint. Great going forward but wide open in defence.
@Harry Corry: No Harry. Dublin were the Al champions last week. Don’t feel embarrassed. It can be confusing but Mayo have a way to go yet ;-)
@Desheen: I’m joking btw lads. Mayo are my 2nd favourite team after Cork. Never give up
@Harry Corry: they are a lot of people’s second favourites because they win feck all
Tyrone are probably the worst team to play against following a convincing win. No better team to get in your face and bring you back down to earth.
If this article doesn’t bring Mel out nothing will
@my name: Mel seems to have retired from being a contrary bollocks on the internet
@Miguel Sanchez: Mel is a prize ballocks
@Miguel Sanchez: ah you’d miss him all the same
@my name: he can be an awkward one and I’m from Tyrone. Hope he is ok though, havent seen him here in ages.
So much for big shot moran today, Motm last week but substituted at half time today…disappointing stuff once again from Mayo. Bottlers