Red Hands duo too hot for Mayo to handle
Mayo’s Rory Brickenden tackles Tyrone's Darren McCurry. Pictures: INPHO/Lorcan Doherty
When the lights were brightest in Healy Park last Saturday evening, it was Tyrone who shone as they condemned Mayo to another league loss on the road.
The wonderfully talented duo of Darren McCurry, who came on as a second half substitute, and Darragh Canavan carved their way through the Green and Red backline, the former scoring eight points (six from frees) in his 35-minute cameo.
Mayo did themselves no favours in that third quarter with a trademark Rob Hennelly free the only response to Tyrone’s twin threats but it was an overall disjointed performance by the visitors, which will come as no major surprise as Kevin McStay rang the changes, eight in total.
As well as the aforementioned Hennelly, Michael Plunkett, Matthew Ruane, Cillian O’Connor, Conor McStay, Stephen Coen, Diarmuid Duffy and Enda Hession all came into the starting lineup, with it being a first senior start for Diarmuid Duffy and a first in over 12 months for Enda Hession, his last ironically against Tyrone in league when he lit up MacHale Park with a wonderful solo goal.
There were positives as Cillian O’Connor looked refreshed while Ruane, Coen, Duffy all enjoyed solo outings while Hession was a livewire whenever he pushed forward.
However, a second defeat means the pressure is cranking up on Mayo and they will hope to avoid a relegation dogfight despite winning their opening two games. What will add to Kevin McStay’s concerns is David McBrien and captain Paddy Durcan are now on the injury list while Diarmuid O’Connor was withdrawn in the opening five minutes.
The damage in the early period was minimal after a cagey start, Darragh Canavan the sole point in the opening exchanges. Eventually settling, Cillian O’Connor popped over two frees either side of a fine score by Coen.
Two Peter Harte frees restored parity before Mayo were awarded a penalty on 23 minutes after Enda Hession was brought down by Cormac Quinn just outside the square. The referee deemed it a goalscoring opportunity and wared a spot-kick while Quinn was shown a black card and O’Connor fired his penalty into the top corner.
Conor McStay extended the lead for Mayo when he tapped over from close range, deciding the angle was too tight for him to go for goal, before Canavan’s free left three between the sides at the interval, 1-4 to 0-4.
The introduction of McCurry turned the game on its head as he two of Tyrone’s first three points of the half, both frees, with Canavan chipping in the other to draw the hosts level.
A stunning Rob Hennelly near the sideline edge Mayo in front before McCurry’s first from play restored parity and he was involved in Canavan’s goal on 47 minutes to put Tyrone into a lead they would never surrender, with another three on the spin for good measure by Seanie O’Donnell and two from McCurry (one free).
Mayo sprung Ryan O’Donoghue from the bench and he stopped the rot with a free on 53 minutes but Canavan responded for Tyrone two minutes later. The next three Mayo scores would follow the same pattern, as two long-range pearler from Fergal Boland and a point from O’Donoghue were cancelled out by the brilliance of McCurry.
Eight minutes were added on after a lengthy delay due to an injury to Seanie O’Donnell after a crunching challenge by Stephen Coen. Bob Tuohy and Rory Brickenden hit over impressive point but four points were as close as Mayo got in the end Mayo welcome Roscommon to Hastings Insurance MacHale Park this coming Saturday evening. Two points will be most welcome to ensure Kevin McStay can breathe a bit easier in the final league games, or else a nervous few weeks will lie ahead.
