MFC Final - Tyrone1-20 Mayo 1-15 (aet):THIS MATCH was like a great unwritten movie scripts; full of gripping intensity that ensured it ran well over the allotted 60 minutes. Only when the director's cut finally makes it to the screen 20 years from now will the quality and drama of the experience truly be appreciated.
For sure, we shall be seeing a good few of these lads again soon when they cross into the senior ranks.
It was a study in the development of football in both counties. Tyrone's trajectory continues to soar with the first senior-minor double since Kerry in 1980. It's the first by an Ulster county. And three minor titles in eight years.
Then there is the continuing story of unfortunate Mayo. Several positives can be taken from this ultimately failed odyssey - like the quality of player they continue to produce, especially Aiden O'Shea.
A decisive extra-time goal was what killed Mayo. Tyrone had hit 0-3 without reply in the first 10 minutes before an opportunistic finish from Conor O'Neill put them six clear. That it came off goalkeeper Robert Hennelly fumbling Paddy McNeice's skyscraper proved the cruellest of irony. Hennelly shoulders no blame here as on three occasions he bailed out his team-mates, and one brilliant reflex save will never be forgotten.
Mayo will look at missed goal chances, along with 10 wides to Tyrone's four. O'Shea shrugged off Gavin Teague and Peter Harte in the first minute only for Stephen MacRory to clear a tame shot off the line. Later, on the stroke of half-time, in extra-time, they could have levelled matters if Cathal Freeman's shot had not been blocked down.
Aidan Walsh kicked six frees but his miss from the resulting 45 made it a total of five wides for their chief marksman. He is, however, also exonerated of blame; it was his steely nerve with the last kick of normal time that forced 20 more minutes.
Tyrone eased into a 0-4 to 0-2 first-quarter lead after two scores from half-back Ronan Tierney and thrived when leaving the influential Kyle Coney closer to goal.
Coney eventually switched to midfield, his five points from play just edging O'Shea and Harte for the man-of-the-match award.
Coney's opening score came off Hennelly's first super save as O'Neill was unable to slide the ball past the goalkeeper.
Mayo began to dominate midfield - it quickly became apparent referee Cormac Reilly would award frees for minimal contact - with James Cafferty, Ger McDonagh and O'Shea gathering to ease them into a one-point lead.
Then came the first Tyrone blitz. Coney landed two quick scores in traffic, while Ronan McNabb and Niall McKenna pointed as the midfield pendulum swung in Tyrone's favour. The hectic opening half ended with Tyrone on eight points to Mayo's six. The Ulster side had yet to register a wide. Mayo had four.
O'Shea pulled it level at 0-10 with a wonder score on 40 minutes and it looked for a time like Mayo might shake them off. No chance. Tyrone came raiding downfield as Harte fed McKenna, who in turn found Ciarán Gervin to fire what seemed a certain goal from close range. Hennelly, at full stretch, tipped it onto the post.
Moments later O'Shea powered into the Tyrone defence, drawing three defenders before offloading to substitute Daniel O'Hara for a point lead. Around this time O'Shea hit Harte a textbook shoulder that would have finished a lesser man. Two poor Mayo kick-outs were punished by Donnelly and Coney before a long-range, outside-of-the-boot point from Shane Nally levelled it again.
Utilising Tierney's pace, Tyrone won a free when O'Shea came across him with what seemed a legitimate tackle. O'Neill's subsequent point should have sealed it but Mayo came again with full-back Kevin Keane winning possession before feeding last week's super-sub Dean Gavin, who drew a free. Walsh belted it over and we primed ourselves for more arm wrestling in extra-time.
Turns out Mayo were spent.
TYRONE:T Harney; F McQuaid, G Teague, S MacRory; R Tierney (0-2), P Harte (0-1, penalty), R McNabb (0-1); N McKenna (0-2), R Keenan; C Gervin (0-1), D McNulty, M Donnelly (0-2); K Coney (0-5), P McNeice (0-3, three frees), C O'Neill (1-3, two frees). Subs: S Warnock for G Teague (blood, 24-28 mins), M Rogers for R Keenan (46 mins), K Mossey for S MacRory (47 mins), S Warnock for K McNulty (48 mins), B McGarvey for R Tierney (77 mins).
MAYO:R Hennelly; D Dolan, K Keane, J Broderick; S McHale, E Reilly (0-1), S Nally (0-2); J Cafferty (1-1), G McDonagh; C Freeman, A O'Shea (0-3, two frees), R Geraghty (0-1); K Charlton, A Walsh (0-6, six frees), A Corduff. Subs: D O'Hara (0-1) for K Charlton (30 mins), D Gavin for R Geraghty (46 mins), J Carney for S McHale (71 mins).
Referee:C Reilly (Meath).
(AET - 0-14 each after normal time)
