Mayo   3-15
Tyrone 2-18
(After Extra Time)
in Sean O'Heslins GAA, Ballinamore.

After a pulsating eighty plus minutes of hurling, the Minor Hurling sides of Mayo and Tyrone remained deadlocked and the destination of the Adrian Freeman Memorial Cup still remains in the balance. Both sides had their opportunities to take the honours throughout the event, but in the end it was Mayo who will be happiest with another bite of the cherry after coming from behind twice - in normal time and in extra time - to draw level with the Red Hand hurlers.

The first half was all Tyrone as they raced into a 1-9 to 0-6 half time lead - the goal coming from Lorcan Devlin in the 18th minute. Mayo clung onto Tyrones coat-tails in this half with points from Sam Forde, Sean Kenny and Calum Gardiner but it looked as if Tyrones physical presence would pull them through.

However, Mayo's third quarter display - where they hit 2-3 without reply - gave the large travelling Mayo crowd something to cheer about - as Brian Peoples and substitute Paul Lambert both goaled in quick succession. When Tyrones Piaras McErlean was shown red in the 47th minute it looked as if Mayo would coast home, but Tyrone regrouped and instead led going into the final straight by two. An injury time brace of frees however by Tooreens Sean Kenny sent the game into extra-time, with the Northern side returning to their full contingent for the final twenty minutes of extra time.

Both sides hit 1-4 apiece in extra time - but again it was the Tyrone side who were on the ascendancy coming into the closing stages. With just two minutes remaining, Mayo trailed by four points - as Ciaran Lagan had earlier goaled for the Red Hand charges. Mayo sub Alan Ferguson pointed late to give the Green and Red hope - but Mayo substitute Conor Browne was the hero of the day as he goaled with a low ground shot late on - his only strike of the ball in the game - before Limerick referee Declan O'Driscoll drew a halt to proceedings.

Both sides will do it all again next Saturday 26th September again back in Ballinamore at 2.30pm. Mayo's battling qualities will be needed again to get them over the line, while Tyrone will be wondering what they need to do to shake off this resilient group of hurlers from the West.

Mayo: Ryan Kilbane; Adrian Boyle, Shane Geraghty, John Cassidy; Evan Heneghan, Ross Egan, Niall McManamon; Conor Murray, Cillian English; Bryan Peoples (1-0), Sean Kenny (0-7,7f), Aidan Henry; Calum Gardiner (0-1), Shane Fleming (0-1), Sam Forde (0-3). Subs: Paul Lambert (1-1), Daniel Huane, Alan Ferguson (0-2), Conor Browne (1-0).

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