Class of McCurry cuts down Mayo in Omagh
Enda Hession of Mayo in action against Ciarán Daly of Tyrone during the Allianz Football League Division 1 match between Tyrone and Mayo at O'Neills Healy Park in Omagh, Tyrone. Picture: Ben McShane/Sportsfile
Eight second half points from substitute Darren McCurry sent Mayo to back-to-back league defeats under the lights in Omagh this evening.
After a cagey opening, Darragh Canavan opened the scoring on five minutes while Mayo lost Diarmuid O’Connor to injury.
Three points on the spin by Cillian O’Connor (two frees) and Stephen Coen edged Mayo in front before a pair of Peter Harte frees drew the sides level again on 18 minutes. The defining moment of the half came five minutes later when Mayo were awarded a penalty after Cormac Quinn pulled down Enda Hession when he was through on goal. Quinn was black carded and Cillian O’Connor fired his penalty into the top corner.
Conor McStay opted for a point when he was through on goal to extend Mayo’s advantage while Tyrone fired over the last score of the half through a Canavan’s free left to leave it 1-4 to 0-4 in Mayo’s favour.
The introduction of McCurry transformed the Red Hands attack. Along with Canavan, they kicked all but one of Tyrone’s scores in the second half, with Canavan’s goal on 47 minutes giving them a lead they would never surrender.
Mayo struggled for scores in the third quarter, Rob Hennelly’s free the only response to Tyrone’s 1-4 in the opening 12 minutes of the second half.
Seanie O’Donnell and McCurry extended Tyrone’s lead to six coming into the final quarter. Mayo found their shooting boots through Ryan O’Donoghue (two), Fergal Boland (two), Bob Tuohy and Rory Brickenden but Tyrone would hit back with a trio of McCurry points and another from Canavan for a deserved win.
Mayo will look to return to winning ways when they welcome Roscommon to Hastings Insurance MacHale Park next Saturday evening.
