NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE Tyrone 0-15 Mayo 0-13:TYRONE AND Mayo both steered clear of relegation in a disappointing game at Omagh yesterday, where the big story was Brian McGuigan's return to the Tyrone starting 15 for the first time in two and a half years.
McGuigan lasted the entire game, and was at the centre of all his side's best attacking efforts. And his younger brother Tommy top-scored with six points, four of them from play, while Seán Cavanagh's move to full forward saw him record a three points haul.
The outcome could have been different had Andy Moran not missed a penalty in first-half stoppage time, his kick superbly saved by Pascal McConnell in front of a crowd of 4,705, after a foul on Conor Mortimer.
Mortimer and Colm McCullagh exchanged free kicks in a low-key opening 20 minutes, during which the sides were level four times.
Brian McGuigan gave several glimpses of the brilliant playmaker he has been for Tyrone, and with Cavanagh at full forward, there was a focus and a new dimension to Tyrone's attacking efforts.
Cavanagh hit an early point, thanks to McGuigan's vision, and there were superb efforts from the pair's younger siblings, with Tommy McGuigan and Colm Cavanagh both finding the target.
Mayo struggled to translate effective approach play into scores, although Austin O'Malley and Tom Parsons did thump over excellent points.
Tyrone began to get a grip on the game in the second quarter, easing three points clear, 0-8 to 0-5, but Mayo missed a chance to go level when McConnell saved Moran's kick superbly at the post.
Tyrone continued to build, Seán Cavanagh and Enda McGinley making it double scores at 0-10 to 0-5 early in the second period.
Wing backs Davy Harte and Philip Jordan were always available to augment the attacking thrusts, and another wonderful effort from Tommy McGuigan saw the home side go six points clear.
But Mayo finally displayed some grit, and a burst of scores from Mortimer, O'Malley and substitute Mark Ronaldson narrowed the gap to two points. But the younger McGuigan, with his sixth point of the afternoon, sealed a welcome win for Tyrone.
TYRONE:P McConnell; R McMenamin, D McCaul, M McGee; D Harte (0-1), C Gormley, P Jordan; C Holmes, E McGinley (0-1); C Cavanagh (0-1), B McGuigan, R Mulgrew; C McCullagh (0-3, frees), S Cavanagh (0-3), T McGuigan (0-6, two frees). Subs: M Swift for McGee; M Penrose for McCullagh.
MAYO:D Clarke; T Cunniffe, K Conroy, C Boyle; D Heaney, T Howley, K Higgins; R McGarrity, T Parsons (0-2); J Gill, A Dillon, A Campbell; C Mortimer (0-6, three frees), A O'Malley (0-4, one free), A Moran. Subs: P Kelly for Cunniffe; M Mullins for Dillon; D Higgins for Heaney; M Ronaldson (0-1) for Gill.
Referee:M Deegan (Laois).
