Camogs see off Mayo with ease in league opener

TYRONE 5-18 MAYO 0-13

A QUALITY performance underscored a 20 point win for Tyrone as their National League Division Four campaign opened in style at Tattyreagh on Saturday, Mayo finding themselves out of their depths against a well- organised home team.

Physically stronger and fitter in all departments, the Red Hand side, featuring several debuts, bossed the game from start-to-finish. There were a clutch of excellent scores, including 5-13 from play, while Lara Devlin, Roisin Mc Erlean and Cara Little impressed in attack.

Indeed Devlin was outstanding. She contributed 1-6 and was a vital link player, with her penetrating runs ripping Mayo apart.

In the middle, Oilibhla Farley and Grainne McDonald dominated for long periods, and at the back, there was a crispness to the tackles, while the Tyrone attack bristled with power.

Tyrone led by seven points at the break; Becky Santos rolling in a goal on the whistle, and despite working hard, Mayo could never reel them in with four second half goals capping the near perfect opening to the season.

Two points in 20 opening seconds set the pace for the Tyrone win. Cara Little and from the puck out Devlin returned the second point. Points from Devlin on the left Aine Cunningham on the right had Tyrone four points up on eight minutes.

Brona Joyce and Hannah Tener did register a brace of Mayo points as they carved out a couple of chances.

Tyrone were assured; Siobhan Donnelly and Bronagh Barker called the shots at the back while Santos went close for a goal as Devlin points pulled Tyrone clear.

McErlean dropped over a 65 and Devlin saw a shot turned away by Megan O’Malley. Sandwiched between the Tyrone pressure, Kate Sachill fired over from long range, and Lillian Keane and Emer Delaney threatened the home goal as Eimear Colton dealt with the efforts.

Devlin and Little exchanged points with Keane and Delaney before Aine Cunningham’s long ball wasn’t dealt with and Santos was there to steer home a first goal. Keane kick-started the second half for Mayo on the restart, with a close-range free, quickly cancelled out with 1-1 from Mc Erlean.

She pointed, then collected the puck out and drove in a goal just six minutes in. Little added to the tally a minute later with a converted free, and Tyrone led by ten points.

Laoise Greally and Ciara Kennedy tagged on Mayo points; Little and Mc Erlean keeping the Tyrone scoreboard ticking over. Mayo desperately tried to unlock a well-organised Tyrone defence, but had to just settle for a long free from Keane as the game entered the final quarter.

Tyrone cut loose in the final 12 minutes. Devlin sent over a tidy point on then run, Lauren Fitzgerald rattled in a goal collecting a ball that rattled the post with Devlin finishing to the net herself on 50 minutes, carrying the ball and making space to get a shot away.

Points from Delaney, Keane and Ava Lambert were consolation scores for the Connacht side, as Cunningham and McErlean scored a pair apiece and Little tagged on a free in the closing minutes before a training ground move set the Naomh Treasa player in for a fifth goal.

Goalkeeper Colton found McErlean on the right, and her inch perfect pass found Little who fired past Shauna Peoples to wrap up an excellent outing for the home side.

THE SCORERS
Tyrone
Lara Devlin 1-6, Roisin Mc Erlean 1-5, Cara Little 1-4, Becky Santos 1-0, Lauren Fitzgerald 1-0, Aine Cunningham 0-3
Mayo
Lilian Keane 0-4, Emer Delaney 0-2, Ava Lambert 0-2, Brona Joyce, Hannah Tener, Kate Scahill, Ciara Kennedy and Laoise Greally 0-1 each
THE TEAMS
Tyrone
Eimear Colton, Molly O’Hanlon, Bronagh Barker, Roise Kerr, Siobhan Donnelly, Una Mc Cann, Aoife Mc Donald, Olibhia Farley, Grainne Mc Donald, Lara Devlin, Roisin Mc Elean, Aine Cunningham, Cara Little, Lauren Fitzgerald, Becky Santos. Subs: Graine Devlin for Kerr, Shona McKenna for G Mc Donald, Bronagh Moohan for Santos, Blathnait Kerr for O’Hanlon
Mayo
Shauna Peoples, Roisin Cassidy, Megan O’Malley, Granne Delaney, Caoimhe Delaney, Ava Lambert, Niamh Greally, Lilian Keane, Laoise Greally, Cathy Greally, Hannah Tener, Ava Dooley, Kate Scahill, Brona Joyce, Emer Delaney. Subs Ciara Kennedy for C Delaney, Megan Deely For G Delaney, Ciara Delaney for Joyce.

Referee: Keith Cahill