All-Ireland MFC: Tyrone clinch the double
September 27, 2008
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Tyrone minor captain Ronan McNabb hoists the Tom Markham Cup aloft after his county had defeated Mayo in the ESB All-Ireland MFC final replay at Longford
By Coilin Duffy
Tyrone 1-20
Mayo 1-15
Two weekends, and two All-Ireland titles as Tyrone are on top of the footballing world after becoming the first Ulster county to capture the Senior-Minor All-Ireland double in the same year, following a five-point victory over Mayo.
This win at a resplendent Pearse Park in Longford ensure Tyrone leaped to third-spot in the All-Ireland MFC roll of honour, after digging deep in extra-time to ensure a five-point victory.
Level on eight occasions in normal time, including three in the first half - Tyrone produced the goods in extra-time, holding Mayo scoreless in the opening period as they led by 0-17 to 0-14 at the break.
A goal within 20 seconds of the restart from Conor O'Neill after a mistake by Mayo keeper Robert Hennelly, propelled Tyrone to victory.
Despite midfielder James Cafferty fisting home a 79th minute goal for Mayo to cut the gap to four points, this was mere consolation for his side.
AFL prospect Kyle Coney (0-5) claimed the man of the match award, and held the Red Hands together at vital times in this contest.
Both Tyrone manager Raymond Munroe and his Mayo counterpart Ray Dempsey had named unchanged sides mid-week, from the teams that had started the drawn encounter; however Ruairí Keenan earned a late call-up in place of midfielder Martin Rodgers for Tyrone.
Tyrone were a more settled side in the opening stages, with points from Conor O'Neill and defender Ronan Tierney inside two and a half minutes.
In contrast Mayo's nerves showed with Aiden O'Shea erring after two minutes in front of the posts, when the Breaffy half-forward missed an early chance; which Tyrone half-back Stephen MacRory cleared to safety.
Eager to make a positive start and in ideal conditions, Tyrone fired into an early two-point lead thanks to scores from Conor O'Neill and defender Ronan Tierney.
Mayo managed to cut the deficit to a point at the end of the opening quarter, thanks to scores from Aidan Walsh and Ray Geraghty; but the Connacht champions fluffed two early goal chances with O'Shea and Ray Geraghty both fluffing opportunities.
A first of three first half points from AFL prospect Kyle Coney, propelled the Red Hands into a 0-4 to 0-2 lead on 17 minutes.
However a resolute Mayo side dominated possession over the next seven minutes as team captain Shane Nally led by example as Nally, Walsh, and fellow defender Eoin Reilly converted; to ensure a one-point lead as the interval approached.
But as they have shown already in this years Championship Tyrone deep, as they lorded midfield, with scores from Coney (2), Ronan McNabb and Niall McKenna; to a lone Mayo free from full-forward Walsh; ensured Ray Munroe's charges held a 0-8 to 0-6 interval lead.
The second half offered more of the same fast paced football witnessed during the opening half. Although Tyrone maintained their interval lead, eight minutes into the second half as scores from Ciarán Gervin and O'Neill cancelled out James Cafferty and O'Shea efforts.
But Mayo dug deep as three points in as many minutes from Walsh (2) and O'Shea propelled Mayo in front for the first time since the 24th minute.
Tyrone's spirit shone through until the end and level on four occasions in the closing 12 minutes, extra-time looked likely and a 62nd minute Aidan Walsh pointed free, his sixth of the game confirmed that case.
The sun may have drawn in for extra-time, but Tyrone certainly turned on the heat in the opening period as they firmly dominated possession, containing Mayo to just brief spells on the ball - for which the Red Hands defence was firmly on top.
Two wides and two missed scoring opportunities were the sum total of Mayo's statistics in the first half of extra-time, as a brace of Paddy McNeice frees and a fifth point from play from Kyle Coney gave Tyrone a 0-17 to 0-14 interval lead - the first time a three-point gap had been opened up in this contest.
Just as Tommy McGuigan fired home an early goal on the restart in last weekend's Senior encounter, Conor O'Neill replicated this in second half extra-time in this game, after just 20 seconds.
The goal came after Mayo goalkeeper Robert Hennelly made an error under a high ball from full-forward Paddy McNeice, with O'Neill capitalising on the rebound and firing to the net.
It was O'Neill's second time to capitalise on a Mayo defensive error in this game, after a 15th minute goal chance in the first half of normal time.
However unlike his previous effort, which had been stopped by Hennelly - this time he had no hesitation - and brought his match tally to 1-2 to finish joint top-scorer for Tyrone in this game alongside Kyle Coney.
Although Cafferty fisted home a late goal, it was mere consolation as a resilient Tyrone side battled to take their seventh title, as joint captains Ryan Pickering and Ronan McNabb accepted the cup from GAA President Nickey Brennan after the game.
Tyrone - T Harney; F McQuaid, G Teague, R Tierney (0-2); S MacRory, P Harte (0-1, 1pen), R McNabb (0-1); N McKenna (0-2), R Keenan; C Gervin (0-1), D McNulty, M Donnelly (0-2); K Coney (0-5), P McNeice (0-3, 3f), C O'Neill (1-3, 2f). Subs: S Warnock for Teague (BS 25-29); M Rogers for Keenan (47); K Mossey for MacRory (48); S Warnock for McNulty (49); R McGarvey for Tierney (78)
Mayo - R Hennelly; D Dolan, K Keane, J Broderick; S McHale, E Reilly (0-1), S Nally (0-2); J Cafferty (1-1), G McDonagh; C Freeman, A O'Shea (0-3, 2f), R Geraghty (0-1); C Charlton, A Walsh (0-6, 6f), A Corduff. Subs: D O'Hara (0-1) for Charlton (30+1); D Gavin for Geraghty (46); J Carney for McHale (71)
Referee - Cormac Reilly (Meath)
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