All-Ireland Under-21 FC Semi-finals: Mayo 1-12 Tyrone 0-14: Mayo's top gun, Michael Conroy scored the winning point a minute into injury of extra-time in this pulsating game at Breffni Park, Cavan, yesterday.
It was some revenge for Mayo, under new manager Pat Holmes, as Tyrone have thwarted them at this level in recent years.
Mayo showed a character and determination that might augur well for some of these players at senior level, coming from behind twice to snatch a dramatic win.
It was rough justice for Tyrone, who had battled back from seven points down after 17 minutes, but they did have the chance to force a replay.
That chance fell to Rory Mulgrew, who though otherwise superb was wide with the last kick of the match, a long-range free.
Mayo were fast out of the blocks, their forwards giving Tyrone the runaround and the scores coming thick and fast, two apiece from Aiden Campbell and Michael Conroy inside four minutes before Barry Moran nailed a fifth, Tyrone's only response was a point from Fintan McGill in the 13th minute.
The only goal of the match arrived in the 17th minute, a superbly worked effort from Mark Ronaldson. Keith Higgins began the move, which involved Marcus Hannick and Michael Conroy, the latter setting up Ronaldson to finish from close range.
Tyrone were in trouble but were a shade unlucky not to goal, Rory McRory denied by the width of the post.
The Ulster champions soon bounced back, however, and Martin McCreesh, Fintan McGill and Justin McMahon hit great points before Mayo's Hannick and Chris Barrett restored the six-point lead five minutes from the interval.
Brendan Boggs and Rory McRory finished the half with a fine score each to leave it 1-7 to 0-6 at the break.
Tyrone came powering back on the resumption, a raft of changes working for them.
McMahon (two), Martin Murray and McRory had them level by the 50th minute before McMahon edged them in front for the first time a minute later.
Mayo wing back Colm Boyle responded magnificently to restore parity only for Colm Cavanaugh to put Tyrone in front again with six minutes left.
Four minutes from the end of normal-time Mayo's Aiden Campbell was on target with a free to send the game into extra-time.
Mayo led (1-11 to 0-13) at the end of the first period of extra-time, Campbell and Conroy hitting the target, while Cathal McCarron pointed for Tyrone.
When Mulgrew got Tyrone level a replay loomed but in the first minute of injury-time Conroy struck from a free.
Mayo await either Cork or Laois, who must replay, as they bid for a title they last won in 1983.
MAYO: K O'Malley; T Howley, G Cafferkey, K Higgins; C Barrett (0-1), T Cunniffe, C Boyle (0-1); S O'Shea, B Moran (0-1); A Campbell (0-4), J Dillon, A Kilcoyne; M Ronaldson (1-0), M Hannick (0-1), M Conroy (0-4). Subs: J Healy for O'Shea, K Costello for Kilcoyne, S Ryder for Dillon. H McLoughlin for Healy, A Kilcoyne for Ronaldson, A Joyce for Cafferkey.
TYRONE: J Curran; PJ Quinn, S McNulty, D Burke; B Boggs (0-1), J McMahon (0-4), J Gilmore; M Murphy, S O'Hagan; R Mulgrew (0-1), M McCreesh (0-1), F McGill (0-2); C Tierney, C Cavanaugh (0-1), R McRory (0-2). Subs: M Murray (0-1) for Gilmore, C McCarron (0-1) for Tierney, N Kerr for O'Hagan, C Tierney for McCreesh, M Cunningham for McGill, S O'Neill for Burke, D O'Neill for Boggs, C O'Neill for Tierney, F McGill for McCarron.
Referee: C Reilly (Meath).
