Jordan Flynn, Mayo, and Seánie O'Donnell and Liam Gray, Tyrone, in Allianz Football League Division One action at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Allianz Football League Division One
Mayo 0-12 (0-1-10) Tyrone 0-10 (0-0-10)
By Colm Gannon at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park
Mayo picked up their first win of the 2025 Allianz Football League in Castlebar.
After a sluggish first half, the visiting Tyrone team held a narrow lead at the break, even if they didn’t manage to get their scoring momentum going until the 16th minute.
Mayo had struck first within two minutes, a close-range effort from Frank Irwin putting them ahead. However, the scoreboard remained dormant for another 14 minutes until Niall Morgan ventured forward to sent a shot soaring over the bar.
In that intervening period, Mayo squandered a great opportunity to extend their lead, but Eoghan McLaughlin's penetrating run was thwarted by a fine save from Morgan. Niall Devlin also had a glimpse of goal after a swift counter-attack, but the combined efforts of Eoin O’Donoghue and David McBrien dispossessed him effectively.
A brief flurry of scoring saw Mayo briefly seize control on the scoreboard and move two points ahead. Davitt Neary's powerful run and subsequent point, followed by a Cian McHale free after Tyrone were penalised for defensive indiscipline, put them in the ascendancy. Brian Kennedy then reduced the deficit with a well-taken score ten minutes before the break, and Michael McKernan levelled the game shortly after, capitalising on Mayo being temporarily reduced to 14 players following a black card for Conor Reid.
Matthew Ruane edged Mayo back in front just before the half-hour mark, but it was Tyrone who finished the half with renewed vigour. A superb point on the run from Mark Bradley, followed by another from Eoin McElhom, gave them a slender 0-5 to 0-4 advantage at the interval.
The second half began with a bang as Jordan Flynn landed the game's only two pointer, propelling Mayo back into the lead. However, their joy was short-lived, as Darren McCurry responded with a free to level the score once more. The tit-for-tat continued, with Morgan and Frank Irwin exchanging points. Tyrone then threatened to pull away, edging into a two-point advantage courtesy of scores from McCurry and Morgan.
With 53 minutes gone, Ryan O’Donoghue narrowed the gap to a single point with a free, and four minutes later, Fergal Boland levelled things up again.
Mayo then squandered a golden opportunity to seize control. A quick free from O’Donoghue found Darren McHale in acres of space, but his goal-bound effort was bravely blocked by the Tyrone defence. Irwin subsequently pointed for Mayo, giving them a slender 0-10 to 0-9 lead and setting up a tense finale.
Cathal McShane levelled the score at ten points apiece with five minutes remaining, leaving the game hanging in the balance. But it was Mayo who finished with a flourish.
In the 67th minute, Niall Morgan, finding himself inside the Mayo defence, drove a shot towards goal but Eoin O’Donoghue, made a crucial block, and then launched a surging run up field, which culminated in a free that O’Donoghue duly converted to restore Mayo's lead. With seconds remaining, and after a period of controlled possession, Boland sealed the victory for Mayo with a close-range finish, as the clock ticked over 35 minutes and the hooter rang out around the ground.
Scorers for Mayo: Frank Irwin 0-3, Fergal Boland 0-2, Ryan O’Donoghue 0-2 (2fs), Jordan Flynn 0-2 (1 2pt), Matthew Ruane 0-1, Davitt Neary 0-1, Cian McHale 0-1 (f).
Scorers for Tyrone: Niall Morgan 0-3 (1f), Darren McCurry 0-2 (2fs), Brian Kennedy 0-1, Michael McKernan 0-1, Mark Bradley 0-1, Eoin McElholm 0-1, Cathal McShane 0-1 (f).
Mayo: Colm Reape; Eoin O’Donoghue, Jordan Flynn, Enda Hession; Stephen Coen, David McBrien, Eoghan McLaughlin; Donnacha McHugh, Matthew Ruane; Conor Reid, Darren McHale, Davitt Neary; Paul Towey, Frank Irwin, Cian McHale.
Subs: Ryan O’Donoghue for Cian MacHale, Fergal Boland for Paul Towey, Aidan O’Shea for Davitt Neary (BS), Aidan O’Shea for Conor Reid, Jack Coyne for Stephen Coen, Sam Callinan for Eoghan McLaughlin.
Tyrone: Niall Morgan; Aidan Clarke, Peter Teague, Niall Devlin; Mark Bradley, Michael McKernan, Rory Brennan; Brian Kennedy, Liam Gray; Seanie O’Donnell, Kieran McGeary, Ciaran Daly; Darren McCurry, Conn Kilpatrick, Eoin McElholm.
Subs: Frank Burns for Liam Gray, Ronan Cassidy for Seanie O’Donnell, Matthew Donnelly for Kieran McGeary, Aodan Donaghy for Ciaran Daly, Cathal McShane for Ronan Cassidy (BS).
Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry).
