Tyrone Ladies Suffer Heavy Defeat In Historic Game

Saturday 11.08.2012

TG4 All-Ireland Ladies SFC round 2 qualifier

Mayo 3-12

Tyrone 1-4

CORA Staunton went on the rampage, scoring an incredible individual tally of 3-11, as Mayo blitzed Tyrone in Saturday evening’s TG4 All-Ireland Ladies SFC round 2 qualifier at St Brendan’s Park, Birr.

Staunton has produced some magnificent individual displays during a glittering career but this must rank right up there with the very best.

Arguably the greatest player that the ladies game has ever seen tortured hapless Tyrone as beaten Connacht finalists Mayo bounced back in ominous fashion with a 14-point demolition job on Tyrone.

Staunton’s matchwinning total, including 3-5 from play, was the main talking point from a one-sided encounter but it’s difficult to understand how Tyrone have plummeted so badly since contesting the 2010 All-Ireland final.

It appears that the psychological scars from that September mauling by Dublin continue to linger and in the second half against Mayo, Tyrone scored just a single point, popped over by Joline Donnelly in the 43^rd minute.

A 39^th minute sin binning for corner back Eimear Teague didn’t help Tyrone’s cause either but it scarcely mattered as they trailed by seven points at the time.

Mayo could even afford the luxury of 18 wides – 12 of those in the second half alone.

And while Staunton shot the lights out, the gifted Carnacon player also found time to register seven of those wides.

The warning signs were there in the first half that it could be an uncomfortable afternoon for Tyrone in front of a low attendance, estimated at little more than 100 souls.

Mayo managed just the one goal in the first half – scored by Staunton – but Tyrone had goalkeeper Shannon Lynch to thank for a couple of superb saves.

Fiona McHale also missed a good chance while Staunton came close to a second goal with the final play of the opening half as her left-footed shot clipped the top of the crossbar and went over.

Remarkably, Tyrone were ahead by two points in the 27^th minute – 1-3 to 0-4 – but Staunton hit 1-3 before half-time to turn the game on its head.

At half-time, Staunton had hit all of Mayo’s 1-7, with Tyrone four points behind having registered 1-3 in the first half.

The second half was simply a procession as Mayo, and Staunton in particular, went on the rampage with the aid of the breeze.

Much of their shooting was wayward but Mayo still kept the scoreboard ticking over and outscored Tyrone 2-5 to 0-1 in the second half.

Staunton added 2-4 to her first half tally and 44 minutes elapsed before a player other than the multiple Allstar scored for Mayo, with Deirdre Doherty raising a white flag.

Mayo were full value for their win but the quarter-final draw was not kind to the Westerners.

They will play red-hot Ulster champions Monaghan in the last eight but with Staunton in this kind of form, Mayo will feel that they’re in with a shout.

Defensively they were sound too as full-back Noelle Tierney marshalled a defence that conceded very little.

Tyrone did not score a single point from a free which is an indication of how disciplined Mayo were at the back.

But Monaghan, reigning Bord Gáis Energy Division 1 champions, will present a significant step-up in class.

The Farney girls cruised through the Ulster championship and demolished Donegal in the provincial final.

And in the eyes of many observers, Monaghan are the main threat to reigning champions Cork in quest for September honours.

Scorers for Mayo: C Staunton 3-11 (0-6f), D Doherty 0-1.

Scorers for Tyrone: J Donnelly 1-1, C Donnelly 0-2, G Begley 0-1.

MAYO: A Torpey; M Corbett, N Tierney, A Bell; S Tierney, M Carter, C Connolly; C Egan, A Gilroy; F McHale, C Staunton, N Kelly; D Doherty, S Rowe, Y Byrne.

Subs: A Brennan for Rowe (55), Ciara McManamon for Kelly (57), Clodagh McManamon for Doherty (60), L Ryder for Bell (60+6).

TYRONE: S Lynch; E Teague, M Kelly/McMenamin, T McLaughlin; C Dooher, L Donnelly, C Scullion; L McGillion, S Quinn; E Hegarty, C Donnelly, C McGlinchey; J Donnelly, G Begley, O O’Neill.

Subs: M Conwell for Hegarty (46), A Traynor for L Donnelly (55), C Hunter for McGlinchey (57), C McGahan for O’Neill (60).

Referee: P Kehoe (Carlow).