Michael McKernan of Tyrone in action against Jason Doherty of Mayo during this evening's Allianz National Football League Division 1 match at O'Neills Healy Park in Omagh, Tyrone. Photo: Stephen McCarthy / Sportsfile

Mayo defeated by Tyrone in Omagh

Despite a spirited second-half effort, Mayo were beaten 0-11 to 0-9 by Tyrone at O'Neills Healy Park, Omagh, this evening in a fairly dour encounter.

The two Allianz NFL Division 1 points on offered probably meant more to a driven Tyrone team, who were in relegation danger before the ball was thrown in by Maurice Deegan.

Those two points will east relegation worries for Tyrone and also make Mayo's possible progression to a league final all the more difficult.

The home side – defending All-Ireland champions who defeated Mayo in that 2021 final – started the game like a steam train.

Mayo, by contrast, looked as though they were struggling with the personnel and positional changes, and were forced into another switch before throw-in as Rory Byrne replaced Robbie Hennelly between the posts.

Whatever the problem, the avenues Mayo went down in the first half were mostly closed off, while at the other end, Tyrone found open road and had the wherewithal to put the foot down.

Tyrone were five points to the good by minute 13, all bar one of those scores coming from what were, nominally at least, defenders.

Darragh Canavan was the sole forward to score within that quintet of points after Frank Burns opened the scoring and the mightily impressive Peter Harte doubled the advantage before Conor Meyler stroked one over with the left peg.

After Canavan's score from a mark, Rory Brennan kicked a lovely score to leave the All-Ireland champions 0-5 to 0-0 ahead.

Mayo's struggles were such that they didn't create a proper opening until the 12th minute, a move that ended with Aiden Orme being fouled. However, the free was kicked short straight to a Tyrone man, from which they broke and scored their fifth point.

Slowly Mayo came more into the contest and they engineered half a goal chance on 14 minutes but Jason Doherty just couldn't create the opportunity for a shot and when the ball was recycled to Paul Towey, his shot was blocked down.

Eventually Mayo got off the mark when Ryan O'Donoghue planted a free between the posts on 24 minutes.

Meyler responded with another fine effort before Jordan Flynn landed Mayo's first from play. Peter Harte put on a bit of a display with two excellent points down the home stretch at the end of that first half to leave it 0-8 to 0-2, with Ryan O'Donoghue reducing the gap to five on the stroke of half-time with a free.

The second half showed promise for Mayo, though it was Tyrone who struck first through substitute Mattie Donnelly.

Credit to the visitors, they rattled off five points in a row from the third to the 14th minute, Matthew Ruane, Jordan Flynn, sub Jack Carney and O'Donoghue (two, one free) all finding the range to leave just one point in it – 0-9 to 0-8 – with just over 20 to go.

Darren McCurry stopped the rot for Tyrone and from there until the finish, the home side were able to keep Mayo largely at arm's length.

O'Donoghue did cut it to one point again with a free on 60 minutes but Darragh Canavan got the insurance score for Tyrone with three to go, the six minutes of injury time producing no score.

Jack Carney did fire a shot towards goal late on as Ryan O'Donoghue kicked a sideline ball into the danger area, but the ball took a deflection wide and Tyrone were safe with the points.

Mayo: R. Byrne; L. Keegan, D. McBrien, D. McHugh; O. Mullin, A. O’Shea, S. Coen; J. Flynn, M. Ruane; F. McDonagh, P. Towey, F. Boland; A. Orme, J. Doherty, R. O’Donoghue.

Subs used: J. Carney, E. Hession, K. McLoughlin, D. Coen, C. Loftus.

Tyrone: N. Morgan; M. McKernan, P. Hampsey, F. Burns; C. Meyler, R. Brennan, P. Harte; C. Kilpatrick, B. Kennedy; R. McNamee, N. Sludden, K. McGeary; D. McCurry, C. McShane, D. Canavan.

Subs used: R. Donnelly, M. Donnelly, L. Rafferty, B. McDonnell.

Ref: M. Deegan.