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May’s 23-year unbroken presence in Division 1 ended when Tyrone prevailed in a thrilling draw at Castlebar to avoid a knockdown.
The Red Hands entered this decisive relegation battle needing only a draw to preserve their top-tier status in the NFL, but a narrow win was the perfect tonic before next weekend’s Ulster Championship clash with Donegal.
Former Aussie Rules star Conor McKenna continued his sensational return to the Gaelic game, scoring two goals after making an senior category debut a week earlier at Ballybofey.
And the other goal came from under-20 star Darragh Canavan on his league debut.
Mayo suffered the pregame loss to Cillian O’Connor, while Canavan, who wasn’t even featured on the game-day panel, was a surprise introduction to Tyrone’s starting lineup.
The Red Hands had the advantage of a strong breeze, but also benefited from a significant increase in their intensity levels from last weekend’s flat display against Donegal.
Patrick Durcan, Eoghan McLaughlin and Diarmuid O’Connor were on target early on for James Horan’s side, but Ulster’s men were always in touch, with Darren McCurry, McKenna and Peter Harte hitting the target.
Canavan had led them 0-5 to 0-4 in the first water break, and just after the restart they conjured their first goal, Mattie Donnelly sent McKenna to shoot David Clarke from 20 meters.
It was a period of high productivity for Mickey Harte’s team, with Harte and McCurry pushing them to a six-point lead, and Mayo went 15 minutes without scoring until Daren Coen converted a free kick.
But conceded a second goal in injury time, McKenna’s perfect pass sent Canavan choosing his spot in the bottom corner of the net.
At the break, Tyrone led 2-9 to 0-7, but the hosts scored the first three points of the second half, two of them from Darren Coen.
But McKenna came in for his second goal in the 44th minute, picking up Clarke’s poor kickoff to power forward and crashing his shot into the net despite a momentary stumble on the heavy turf.
It was another jolt for the home team, now nine points from drift, when desperation began to set in.
But they produced another upbeat response, with three more points to the twist, from Conor Loftus, O’Connor and Coen to keep their fight for survival alive.
And they were way back in survival mode when Conroy came in to score a goal in the 58th minute.
Tyrone had to play ten minutes with 14 men after Conor Meyler received a black card, and substitute James Durcan brought Connacht’s men closer to one point as he converted a pair of free hits.
However, with Donnelly and Ronan McNamee rising to the occasion, Tyrone went for McCurry and McKenna to kick points that meant safety.
Mayonnaise: D Clarke; O Mullin, S Coen, L Keegan; P Durcan (0-01), K McLoughlin, E McLaughlin (0-01); M Ruane (0-01), C Loftus (0-01); D O’Connor (0-02, 1f), M Moran, B Walsh; T Conroy (1-03), A O’Shea, D Coen (0-05, 3f).
Subs used: R O’Donoghue (0-02, 1f) for Moran (ht), F McDonagh for Walsh (ht), J Durcan (0-03, 3f) for D Coen (55), P O’Hora for McLaughlin (55) , P Towey by E McLaughlin (40)
Tyrone: N Morgan; L. Rafferty, R. McNamee, HP McGeary; T McCann, K McGeary (0-01), M McKernan (0-01); B. Kennedy, M. Donnelly (0-02); P Harte (0-03), C McKenna (2-2, 0-1f), D McCurry (0-04, 0-3f); M O’Neill, D Canavan (January 1), C Meyler.
Subs used: F Burns for O’Neill (31), K Coney for Kennedy (49), N Sludden for Canavan (63), N Kelly for HP McGeary (67), R O’Neill for McCurry (41)
Referee: N Cullen (Fermanagh).
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