FL1: Mayo rain on Tyrone's parade in Omagh

February 03, 2019

Mayo's Keith Higgins scores a goal against Tyrone. ©INPHO/Tommy Dickson.

Mayo roared to a magnificent 2-13 to 0-10 victory over Tyrone in a one-sided encounter at soggy Healy Park.

Keith Higgins and Fionn McDonagh netted in either half for the visitors, who have won both their outings to date in this year’s league while the Red Hands remain pointless. Higgins’ 32nd-minute major ensured Mayo of a comfortable 1-7 to 0-3 interval advantage and they kicked on confidently when the action resumed.

Peter Harte’s point had the Red Hands ahead by the odd point from five after 21 minutes, debutant Ciaran Treacy and his fellow wing forward McDonagh pointing for the winners after Darren McCurry and Lee Brennan had converted early Tyrone frees.

Andy Moran – a late addition to the Mayo starting team – had the visitors ahead for the first time after Treacy notched his second and Moran opted to fist his point as James Horan’s men led by five points to three after 27 minutes.

Niall Morgan came off his line to deny Brian Reape but Mayo goalkeeper Robert Hennelly was on hand to thump over the resulting ‘45’ as the Connacht county led by double scores. Mayo had been threatening to get a goal and it finally arrived three minutes from the interval when corner back Higgins turned on the afterburners, found himself in space and drilled a low shot to the net – 1-6 to 0-3!

McDonagh swung over his second from distance as the visitors led by seven at the break.

There were eleven points between the teams, 2-12 to 0-8, after McDonagh gathered possession and drove the ball to the Tyrone net in the 58th minute,

McDonagh and Jason Doherty slotted the first two points upon the resumption but McCurry (free) and substitute Conan Grugan replied before Doherty and Brennan traded scores as the rain started to spill down.

Hennelly and Doherty tagged on frees for the winners and Harte pointed for the hosts prior to McDonagh’s goal. Morgan’s long-range point from play was top drawer but, all in all, it was a day to forget for Tyrone.

Mayo - R Hennelly (0-2, 1f, 1'45); S Coen, B Harrison, K Higgins (1-0); P Durcan (0-1), M Plunkett, L Keegan; D O’Connor, D Vaughan; F McDonagh (1-3), A O’Shea, C Treacy (0-2); A Moran (0-2, 1m), B Reape, J Doherty (0-3, 1f). Subs: C Diskin for B Reape, K McLoughlin for A Moran, D Drake for S Coen, M Ruane for C Treacy.

Tyrone - N Morgan (0-1); M McKernan, R McNamee, H P McGeary; T McCann, R Brennan, M Donnelly (0-1f); B Kennedy, D McClure; P Harte (0-3, 1f), N Sludden, K McGeary; D McCurry (0-2f), F Burns, L Brennan (0-2, 1m). Subs: C Grugan (0-1) for D McClure, P Hampsey for H P McGeary, K Coney for F Burns, C McCann for D McCurry, C Meyler for K McGeary.

Referee - J McQuillan.


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