Allianz Football League: Tyrone fight back to beat Mayo as Down defeat Offaly
- Published
Darren McCurry and Darragh Canavan turned the tide for Tyrone, who boosted their Division One survival hopes with a brilliant 1-15 to 1-11 win over Mayo.
The pair hit 1-12 between them as Tyrone produced a superb second half to claim two valuable league points.
League champions Mayo led 1-4 to 0-4 at half time with Cillian O'Connor netting a penalty.
Tyrone were a transformed team after the break and after Canavan's goal they managed the game out.
In Division Three, Down made it four league wins in a row as they defeated Offaly 4-12 to 2-14 at Pairc Esler.
The Red Hands were under serious pressure after back-to-back league defeats, but the way they played in the second-half was a sign of a team whose need was the greater.
Canavan scored Tyrone's only first-half point from play in the game's opening score after seven minutes.
Tyrone were too passive while Mayo's pace and running power soon became apparent as they raced into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead. Stephen Coen pointed and Cillian O'Connor, a late addition to the starting team, nailed two frees.
While Harte levelled with two frees, it was brief respite for Tyrone before the all-important and contentious penalty decision.
Cormac Quinn floored Enda Hession and while the free was outside the square, it was deemed to be a goal scoring opportunity - thus Quinn was black-carded and Mayo were awarded a penalty.
Cillian O'Connor buried the ball high into the top corner to help Mayo into a 1-4 to 0-4 interval lead.
Yet, Tyrone came out a different team, playing with a lot more urgency and hunger in the tackle.
The half-time introduction of McCurry was key and alongside Canavan, they tormented Mayo in the second half.
Both scored stylish points from play before Canavan's goal, stepping inside two men and burying the ball low past Hennelly.
That put Tyrone in front, 1-8 to 1-5, for the first time since very early in the game and brought the crowd to life.
The pair tagged on 1-12, with Seanie O'Donnell adding the only other score for Tyrone in the second half before he was later stretchered off.
Mayo stayed in touch with two points each from Fergal Boland and sub Ryan O'Donoghue, but Tyrone were in no mood to relinquish their useful cushion and held on.
Down extend Division Three winning streak
It wasn't straightforward, but Down remained perfect with a four-point win over Offaly.
After a bright start from Offaly, Down rattled the net on six minutes through Liam Kerr, which gave them a three-point lead.
As the first half went on, Down were able to keep the scoreboard ticking over through a multitude of Pat Havern scores, whilst Offaly conspired to miss three goal chances of their own - with two ending up as points, and one finishing with a save by John O'Hare.
In the second half, Down seemed to be well in the ascendancy when Odhran Murdock drilled his shot into the bottom corner to make it 2-9 to 0-7, and when Kerr scored his second that looked like game over.
Instead, it began a manic spell of the game with four goals in six minutes: Down's Kerr, Offaly's Jack Bryant, Down's Ryan Johnston and Offaly's Keith O'Neill all finding the net in quick succession.
When things calmed down, Down reasserted themselves in the closing minutes, when Pat Havern nailed two key scores.