Massive Mayo league meeting on Saturday for Tyrone

TYRONE don’t quite stand on the precipice just yet, but they know they can ill-afford to lose Saturday evening’s Division One clash at home to Mayo.

With only two points in the bag after three rounds of action, the Red Hands hover precariously above the relegation zone with mammoth tussles against Kerry (in just over a week’s time), Monaghan and Dublin still to come.

The Red Hands lost out by a solitary point to Galway last Sunday, also in Omagh, an unsatisfactory outcome that left more questions than answers for the management team to consider.

While Tyrone had some big names missing, the same can be said of Padraic Joyce’s side, so it was frustrating that they couldn’t get over the line in one of the more winnable-sounding ties in the itinerary.

But at the same time, it wasn’t a catastrophic result and they’ll be hopeful they can make amends against Mayo this Saturday evening, with the game set to be broadcast live by RTÉ.

Kevin McStay’s side are reigning Division One champions (for what that’s worth, and these days it mightn’t be worth a lot) and they’ve enjoyed a decent start to this year’s campaign.

They claimed victories over Galway and Dublin in their first two outings to establish something of a comfort blanket, but fell to their first defeat last Saturday night with Kerry’s David Clifford lofting over a dramatic winning point deep into injury time.

Still, they’re playing with a spring in their step and while it’s early days, seem to have tightened up considerably at the back (they’re yet to concede a single goal in their league campaign).

Their half-back line is formidable – up there with any in the country – but their midfield played second fiddle to Kerry’s and their forwards had a poor enough day at the office.

Aidan O’Shea was visibly irritated when he was hauled off with 20 minutes ago, but he’d been on the periphery of proceedings while it didn’t really happen for Tommy Conroy either.

They’ve been nothing if not competitive and it’ll take a mammoth effort from Tyrone to emerge with the win.

They shipped four goals in last year’s league encounter with Mayo but defensively the Red Hands were fairly sound against Galway, so you’d imagine there won’t be a recurrence on that front.

Their offensive play wasn’t quite as sound at the weekend and it’ll be interesting to see if Darren McCurry makes an appearance, while the Canavan brothers are always capable of wreaking havoc.

Conor Meyler and Mattie Donnelly’s driving runs have been missed, but Kieran McGeary looked lively in a second-half cameo, his first appearance of the new season, while the rookies obviously deserve some time to show what they can do.

We live in hope that one day it’ll all gel and it really would be the opportune moment for Tyrone to click into gear as it’s going to get no easier from here on in.