Mayo 2-13
Tyrone 0-10
Declan Bogue reports from Omagh
MAYO SENT OUT a warning to their competitors in Division 1 this year with a rare blistering start to the league, this win like a throwback to the cussedness of James Horan’s first spell in charge of them.
After weathering a little bit of Tyrone determination at the start, they absorbed all their hosts could throw at that and inspired by late replacement Andy Moran and helped by wing-forwards and league debutants Fionn McDonagh – who scored 1-3 from play – and Ciaran Tracey, they ran Tyrone to an exhausted standstill.
They had already jumped into a 0-6 to 0-3 lead with the half winding down when corner-back Keith Higgins took out three Tyrone backs with a few sidesteps and steadied himself to squeeze a shot past Niall Morgan to the net.
It had been coming as a Brian Reape shot from close range had been smothered just prior by Morgan.
Despite multiple early substitutions Tyrone could not find their way back into this. Midway through the half they looked exhausted and committed a series of tired tackles, allowing the fresher Mayo to take advantage.
The game as a contest was already long over when McDonagh was played through in acres of space and skated through to slam a low shot beyond Morgan and leave themselves with a pleasant trip home.
Scorers for Mayo: Fionn McDonagh (1-3), Jason Doherty (0-3, 1f), Keith Higgins (1-0), Rob Hennelly (0-2, 1x’45′, 1f), Paddy Durcan, Ciaran Tracey, Brian Reape (0-1 each)
Scorers for Tyrone: Peter Harte (0-3, 1f), Darren McCurry (0-2, 1f, 1m), Lee Brennan (0-2, 1f), Niall Morgan and Conan Grugan (0-1), Matthew Donnelly (0-1f)
Mayo
1. Rob Hennelly (Breaffy)
2. Stephen Coen (Hollymount)
3. Brendan Harrison (Aghamore)
4. Keith Higgins (Ballyhaunis)
5. Michael Plunkett (Ballintubber)
6. Lee Keegan (Westport)
7. Paddy Durcan (Castlebar)
8. Diarmuid O’Connor (Ballintubber)
9. Donal Vaughan (Castlebar)
10. Fionn McDonagh (Westport)
11. Aidan O’Shea (Breaffy)
12. Ciaran Treacy (Ballina)
25. Andy Moran (Ballahadereen)
14. Brian Reape (Moy Davitts)
15. Jason Doherty (Burrishoole)
Subs:
13. Conor Diskin for Reape (49m)
5. James McCormack for Keegan (61m)
22. Kevin McLoughlin for Moran (67m)
18. David Drake for Coen (70m)
21. Matthew Ruane for Tracey (72m)
Tyrone
1. Niall Morgan (Edendork)
2. Michael McKernan (Coalisland)
3. Ronan McNamee (Aghyaran)
4. Hugh Pat McGeary (Pomeroy)
5. Tiernan McCann (Killyclogher)
6. Rory Brennan (Trillick)
7. Peter Harte (Errigal Ciaran)
8. Brian Kennedy (Derrylaughan)
9. Declan McClure (Clonoe)
10. Matthew Donnelly (Trillick
11. Niall Sludden (Dromore)
12. Kieran McGeary (Pomeroy)
13. Darren McCurry (Edendork)
17. Frank Burns (Pomeroy)
15. Lee Brennan (Trillick)
Subs:
19. Conan Grugan for McClure (ht)
14. Padraig Hampsey for HP McGeary (ht)
18. Kyle Coney for Burns (40m)
20. Conal McCann for McCurry (43m)
24. Conor Meyler for K McGeary (53m)
Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan)
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2 McIlroys. A and B and flips and flops to suit himself and the circumstances. Would prefer if he just said the big money and attention is still in the US rather than skirt around the obvious!
@David Gaffney: But that is what he is saying. He lives in the state’s cause that’s where the money is and he’s never made a secret of that. He’s saying as good as the changes to the European tour are, they aren’t enough to entice the top players to change what they are doing. It’s overtly implied it what he said. Just cause he doesn’t blatantly state it doesn’t mean he’s skirting the question
@Phil Redmond:
Married to an American, his family is in America… The bggest payouts are in America… Totally understandable…
Shane is in the same boat… To play in the top competitions you have to play in the highest ranking tournaments…
@Cowboy Paddy: Exactly and the European tour events need to get much closer to the PGA in terms of prize money and ranking points if they want to start attracting the top players away from it. I doubt that will ever happen though. The PGA want to protect their place as the no 1 tour like anyone in their position would so any sign that the European tour are going to make any significant inroads into that they’ll up the prize money and keep the top players coming back to them
@Phil Redmond: it absolutely does mean he is skirting around it! Why not just say it. Why talk like a politician that is evasive and won’t commit!?
@David Gaffney: Non committal choker and mercenary. #136daystillmoreRorycomedygold