ALL-IRELAND MFC SEMI-FINAL Tyrone 3-10 Mayo 0-16:TYRONE STRUCK with two stunning second half goals in an amazing five minutes to repeat their victory of two years ago over Mayo.
It was heartbreak for Mayo once more having lost to the same opposition in a replayed final two years ago and they appeared to be on course to avenge that defeat when leading by seven points entering the final 15 minutes
However, Tyrone, despite struggling in the first half, never panicked and from once they hit the first of those two second half goals it ignited at magnificent comeback by top forwards Ronan O’Neill, Richard Donnelly and substitute, Dara Donnelly. Richard Donnelly provided the finish to a well -worked move on 42 minutes and when Ronan O’Neill followed with a point, the lead was pared back to three and it was erased on 47 minutes when substitute Dara Donnelly hit their third goal.
O’Neill, John McCullagh, and Stefan Tierney hit three points on the trot as Tyrone began to confirm their statue as odds-on favourites before the game.
Substitute James Shaughnessy gave Mayo a glimmer of hope with a fine point two minutes from time, but the superb O’Neill stroked over another point on 60 minutes to restore Tyrone’s three -point lead .
There was almost a dramatic twist in the three minutes of injury time.
Darren Durkan had a shot saved by Tyrone keeper Mark McReynolds and from the rebound, Danny Kirby’s shot was cleared off the line by full back Conor Clarke as Mayo almost so close to forcing a replay just before the final whistle.
Mayo were quickly out of the blocks with three rapid points, Jack McDonnell with the opening point of the game inside two minutes, Cillian O’Connor then adding two frees.
Tyrone had wiped out that deficit with their opening score, a superbly taken goal by Ronan O’Neill who latched on to a pass from Stephen Tierney before placing the ball in the top corner of the net.
By the 17th minute Tyrone had gone three points clear, with John McCullagh, O’Neill and Richard Donnelly all on target from play.
The Ulster champions then failed to score for the rest of the half as Mayo took over around the middle and they hit seven unanswered points, all from play.
The lead was extended to seven before Tyrone hit those two goals in the critical five-minute spell.
TYRONE: M McReynolds; S McGarrity, C Clarke, H P McGeary; N Sudden, M Donaghy, E Deeney; H Óg Conlon, C Crugan; R Donnelly (1-2), T Canavan, R Devlin; S Tierney (0-1), J McCullagh (0-2), R ONeill (1-5, 2f). Subs: P McNulty for M Donaghy (ht), D Donnelly (1-0)for Canavan (38 mins), L Girvan for H Og Conlon (43 mins), and C McCullagh for H McGeary (62 mins).
MAYO: P Mannion; B Harrison, N Freeman, C Twomey; R Quirke (0-1), C Walsh, C Horan; D Kirby, M Forde (0-1); J McDonnell (0-3), F Durkan, S Kelly; C Costello (0-1), D Coen (0-3), C OConnor (0-6, 4f). Subs: M Regan for Twomey (47 mins), A Leonard for Kelly, D Durkan for McDonnell (57 mins), J Shaughnessy (0-1)for Costello (50 mins).
Referee: R Hickey(Clare).
