Mayo's super subs rescue vital point against Red Hands
Lisa Cafferky struck 1-2 in the closing stages to earn Mayo a draw. Picture: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo
Mayo overturned a six-point deficit to rescue a draw against Tyrone in a dramatic finale to firmly put themselves in contention for promotion back to Division 1, the game finishing 2-7 to 1-10.
It was a first half to forget for Mayo, who only scored a single point and that came in added time through Sinead Cafferky. The first 20 minutes of this game was marred by dreadful weather conditions, and Mayo struggled to find their way through a crowded Tyrone backline.
The inclement weather would play it’s part in Tyrone’s first major on 12 minutes. A simple pass across the Mayo square looked like goalkeeper Laura Brennan would easily collect it, but it went through the hands of the Hollymount goalkeeper and Cara McNamee would tap it into the open goal.
Mayo almost responded with a goal of their own five minutes later. Sinead Cafferky’s reverse pass put in Ciara Needham, and the Louisburgh defender was unfortunate to see her strike come crashing off the post.
Tyrone punished them with a quick counter, and Sorcha Gormley muscled past Lucy Wallace before placing her strike into the bottom corner. From the restart, Aoife Horisk almost punished slack Mayo defending but her effort thundered back off the crossbar, but Niamh O’Neill would point soon after.
The weather took a turn for the better for the rest of the half, and with it came Mayo’s best spell. The visitors accuracy was still off, with Meabh Delaney, Aoife Geraghty and Ciara Needham all missing chances before Sinead Cafferky ensured Mayo would not go the half scoreless with a well-taken point to leave it 2-1 to 0-1.
Niamh O’Neill and Sinead Walsh, the latter on as a half-time substitute, traded frees at the start of the second half before Walsh would get one from play shortly after.
Sorcha Gormley replied for Tyrone a familiar story would follow Mayo throughout the third quarter as Walsh would tag on another two frees, but each were met with a Tyrone point as Mayo still trailed by six going into the final 15 minutes.
Walsh added another two to take her tally to six. Mayo’s tails were well up with ten minutes remaining, with the introductions of Lisa Cafferky, Hannah Reape, and Suzanne Tuohy adding further impetus to Mayo drives forward.
They still needed a goal, and it arrived at the end of normal time. Aoife Staunton, who pointed shortly beforehand, played a quick free to Lisa Cafferky and the Kilmovee Shamrocks star fired in to leave only a point between the teams.
Another Niamh O’Neill free looked like it may have saved the win for Tyrone, only for Lisa Cafferky to produce two late points to rescue what might prove to be a valuable point on the road.
