Paddy Durcan returns to inspire Mayo to a victory that keeps their dreams alive
IN A WEEK when they lost their manager and a fortnight since what was expected to be their ‘gimme’ win of their group 1 round robin, Mayo reached deep into themselves to revive hopes they would go deeper into the All-Ireland race by comprehensively dominating Tyrone.
They jumped into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead in the first dozen minutes; two Ryan O’Donoghue frees, a debut point for Conal Dawson and one of two first half points from Rory Brickenden.
Tyrone looked to be going through the hangover horrors of the Ballybofey win. After half an hour they had just two points. Defensively they fell for all the traps Mayo set, allowing Peter Teague to carry the ball out of defence, only to strip him with a pincer movement.
From Niall Morgan’s 13 kickouts, they lost six. Without Brian Kennedy in the middle they were struggling to find options.
Mayo brought the best version of themselves. When Tyrone were attacking, they threw up a heavy cordon of bodies and invited them on. That left one on one duels inside, but again they backed themselves with Sean Morahan handling Mark Bradley and Enda Hession on Darren McCurry, neither of whom scored in the first half.
Gaining so much possession meant Mayo were rampant. In a couple of minutes they had two goal chances; Jack Carney producing a backdoor cut that invited Aidan O’Shea to hoke a ground shot wide, while O’Shea returned the compliment to Carney who was blocked down by a retreating Seanie O’Donnell, bringing a converted 45 from goalkeeper Colm Reape.
Having gone 0-9 to 0-2 down, Darragh Canavan attempted to fashion a Tyrone comeback with a free worked with a give-go and then shot from play, followed by him converting his own free after being fouled by Jack Coyne.
As the half wore down, Mayo held the ball for the last two minutes. Eventually Bob Tuohy floated in what appeared a rash shot after all that effort, but it was spilled by Niall Morgan into the arms of Darren McHale to plant to the net at the maximum emotional effect.
Tyrone staged a comeback that brought a sumptuous goal from Darragh Canavan and came to within two points. It was noticeable how their biggest performers were being leaned on heavily. For all the talk of a conveyor belt in Tyrone with another U20 All-Ireland, a lot of this game showed up how you need your seasoned men.
Darren McCurry grabbed himself two points before Niall Morgan lamped a two-point free over. Two in it. But that merely got Mayo going again.
They reeled off an unanswered 1-4. The win was sealed a successful Ryan O’Donoghue penalty, burying some ghosts of his miss against the same opposition in the 2021 final.
This result means that Mayo’s championship season lives, but there is still some work left to do.
Scorers for Mayo: Ryan O’Donoghue 1-6 (1-0 pen, 0-5 frees), Paddy Durcan 0-3, Darren McHale 1-0, Conal Dawson 0-2, Rory Brickenden 0-2, Aidan O’Shea, Jack Carney, Jack Coyne 0-1 each, Colm Reape 0-1 (1 x 45)
Scorers for Tyrone: Darragh Canavan 1-3 (0-2 frees), Niall Morgan 0-4 (2 x 2point frees), Darren McCurry 0-2 (0-1 free), Michael McKernan, Kieran McGeary, Ben McDonnell, Mattie Donnelly 0-1 each
Mayo1. Colm Reape (Knockmore)
2. Jack Coyne (Ballyhaunis) 16. Seán Morahan (Castlebar Mitchells) 4. Rory Brickenden (Westport)
5. Stephen Coen (Hollymount Carramore) 6. David McBrien (Ballaghadereen) 7. Enda Hession (Garrymore)
23. Paddy Durcan (Castlebar Mitchels) 9. Matthew Ruane (Breaffy)
10. Jack Carney (Kilmeena) 11. Darren McHale (Knockmore) 17. Bob Tuohy (Castlebar Mitchels)
13. Aidan O’Shea (Breaffy) 18. Conal Dawson (Westport) 15. Ryan O’Donoghue (Belmullet)
Subs:
12. Jordan Flynn (Crossmolina) for Tuohy (52 mins)
14. Davitt Neary (Breaffy) for McHale (52 mins)
20. Fenton Kelly (Davitts) for Dawson (55 mins)
21. Fergal Boland (Aghamore) for Ruane (64 mins)
25. Sam Callinan (Ballina) for Durcan (68 mins)
Tyrone1. Niall Morgan (Edendork)
2. Cormac Quinn (Errigal Ciaran) 3. Peter Teague (Dromore) 4. Niall Devlin (Coalisland)
5. Michael McKernan (Coalisland) 6. Rory Brennan (Trillick) 7. Kieran McGeary (Pomeroy)
8. Brian Kennedy (Derrylaughan) 9. Conn Kilpatrick (Edendork)
10. Seanie O’Donnell (Trillick) 11. Mattie Donnelly (Trillick) 12. Ciarán Daly (Trillick)
13. Darren McCurry (Edendork) 14. Mark Bradley (Killyclogher) 15. Darragh Canavan (Errigal Ciaran)
Subs:
20. Shea O’Hare (Ardboe) for Brennan (HT)
26. Liam Gray (Trillick) for O’Donnell (HT)
24. Peter Harte (Errigal Ciaran) for Bradley (47 mins)
25. Ruairí Canavan (Errigal Ciaran) for Daly (47 mins)
22. Aodhan Donaghy (Loughmacrory) for McDonnell (62 mins)
Referee: David Coldrick (Meath)
The 42
