Tyrone 0-13 Mayo 0-10
Tyrone have retained their All-Ireland Under-21 football title after a 0-13 to 0-10 victory over a gallant Mayo side at Markievicz Park, Sligo this afternoon.
Tyrone have waited almost 17 months to regain that title after the foot-and-mouth scare during the spring prompted the suspension of the under-21 football competition.
Tyrone themselves were excluded from the championship but successfully appealed that ruling and duly progressed to claim the Ulster title.
The Ulster champions, strongly fancied this afternoon, combined well and took the game to their opponents. Stephen O’Neill and Eoin Mullen teamed up nicely assisting Tyrone during a period that yielded six unanswered points in the first half.
Mayo showed plenty of skill in the first half but failed to cobble together the attacking prowess needed to etch their mark on the scoreboard. Tyrone led 0-8 to 0-4 at the break.
Relentless rain and a heaving gale didn’t help either side’s cause after the break but nevertheless Tyrone plugged away with O’Neill and Mulligan making their mark again.
Mayo stepped up their performance late in the game and pointed nicely through Ger Brady and Conor Mortimer.
No doubt Tyrone are worthy champions but Mayo will ponder what could have been had Brian Maloney not pointed twice from decent goal chances in both halves.