Mayo 1-7

Tyrone 1-11

MAYO SUFFERED THE brunt of a Tyrone backlash at McHale Park in Castlebar as Mickey Harte’s charges got their first win in division one in professional fashion.

Despite a Cillian O’Connor goal Mayo only managed three second-half points and kicked a total of 15 wides as they struggled to break down the Tyrone blanket defence.

Tyrone stormed out of the blocks in the opening half with Mayo struggling to break down their rigid defence, as the visitors quickly went 0-4 to 0-1 ahead thanks to scores from Darren McCurry, Cathal McShane, Matti Donnelly and a free from Sean Cavanagh.

Mark Ronaldson and Michael Conroy hit back for Mayo but Tyrone sailed further ahead with Niall Morgan popping over two frees and McCurry and Tiernan McCann gave them a 0-8 to 0-4 interval lead.

After the restart Donnelly and McCurry increased Tyrone’s lead before Aidan O’Shea was black carded for his bodycheck on Morgan.

On 50 minutes Cillian O’Connor sparked the game into life with a goal from his first touch, when Kevin McLoughlin found a rare gap in the Tyrone defence. His shot came off the post but the waiting O’Connor bundled home to give Mayo a lifeline.

A scrappy seven minutes ensued before Tyrone dealt a real hammer blow when Sean Cavanagh’s pass split open the Mayo defence and PJ Lavery squared for the waiting Peter Harte who tapped into the net.

O’Connor’s cracking free was promptly followed by an equally impressive McCurry score from play as Tyrone shut up shop from here and let Mayo’s wide count increase to 15 in front of 9,955 in Castlebar.

Scorers for Mayo: Cillian O’Connor 1-2 (1 ’45, 1f), Jason Doherty 0-2 (2f), Michael Conroy, Mark Ronaldson and Kevin McLoughlin (f) 0-1 each.

Scorers for Tyrone: Darren McCurry 0-4 (2f), Peter Harte 1-0, Mattie Donnelly and Niall Morgan (2f) 0-2 each, Cathal McShane, Tiernan McCann and Sean Cavanagh (f) 0-1 each.

MAYO

1. David Clarke (Ballina Stephenites)

2. Michael Hall (Breaffy)

3. Kevin Keane (Westport)

4. Keith Higgins (Ballyhaunis)

5. Lee Keegan (Westport)

6. Stephen Coen (Hollymount/Carramore)

7. Colm Boyle (Davitts)

8. Aidan O’Shea (Breaffy)

9. Donal Vaughan (Ballinrobe)

10. Diarmuid O’Connor (Ballintubber)

11. Kevin McLoughlin (Knockmore)

12. Jason Doherty (Burrishoole)

13. Michael Conroy (Davitts)

14. Alan Freeman (Aghamore)

15. Mark Ronaldson (Shrule/Glencorrib)

Subs

23. Cillian O’Connor (Ballintubber) for Ronaldson (45)

18. Patrick Durcan (Castlebar Mitchels) for Boyle (46)

22. Barry Moran (Castlebar Mitchels) for A O’Shea (black card) (50)

26. Michael Sweeney (Kiltane) for Freeman (57)

17. Ger Cafferkey (Ballina) for Keegan (60)

8. Alan Dillon (Ballintubber) for D O’Connor (67)

 TYRONE

1. Niall Morgan (Edendork)

2. Aidan McCrory (Errigal Ciaran)

3. Ronan McNamee (Aghyaran)

4. Cathal McCarron (Dromore)

5. Ronan McNabb (Dromore)

6. Mattie Donnelly (Trillick)

7. Peter Harte (Errigal Ciaran)

8. Colm Cavanagh (Moy)

9. Padraig McNulty (Dungannon)

10. Tiernan McCann (Killyclogher)

25. Justin McMahon (Omagh)

12. Peter Hughes (Eskra)

13. Darren McCurry (Edendork)

14. Sean Cavanagh (Moy)

26. Cathal McShane (Owen Roe O’Neills)

Subs

18. PJ Lavery (Clonoe) for McShane (46)

21. Conal McCann (Killyclogher) for C Cavanagh (56)

27. Barry Tierney (Omagh) for McNamee (59)

15. Niall McKenna (Donaghmore) for McCurry (64)

Referee: Eddie Kinsella (Laois)

Heard the one about 2 Tipp men bringing a Kilkenny team to Croke Park for a SHC final?

LIVE: Kerry, Mayo, Cork and the rest of the day’s action – Allianz football league match tracker