Two goals in each half propelled Mayo to a comprehensive home victory over Tyrone and meant they remain unbeaten after four rounds of this season's National League.
It was also the Westerners' first victory over Tyrone in Castlebar for more than 40 years, as the 2021 All-Ireland champions slumped to their third away defeat in their four games, having already lost on their travels to Galway and Roscommon.
First-half goals from Aidan O’Shea and James Carr set Kevin McStay’s charges on their way to their second win in seven days on home ground, with Enda Hession and Diarmuid O’Connor also hitting the net in the second period.
Tyrone were powerless to stop Mayo’s attacking raids for long spells with a dozen different players getting on the scoresheet for the winners in front of a crowd of 12,218.
Despite getting off to a slow start, Mayo led at the interval by 2-5 to 0-5.
Tyrone had dominated the first quarter and deservedly led by 0-4 to 0-1 after 20 minutes with well-crafted scores from Darragh Canavan and Darren McCurry supplemented by frees from McCurry and goalkeeper Niall Morgan.
Mayo only converted one of their six chances in that opening quarter and it took them 18 minutes to open their account through a Ryan O’Donoghue free.
But slowly and surely they found their feet and went on to outscore Tyrone by 2-4 to no score in the space of 13 blistering minutes.
The revival began with an inspirational fisted point from Mattie Ruane on 23 minutes sparking the large partisan home crowd into life.
Two minutes later the Mayo supporters were in full voice again as Aidan O’Shea hit the Tyrone net from close-range — despite the best efforts of Niall Morgan and Frank Burns — after Enda Hession had broken the visitor’s defensive line with a purposeful run.
O’Shea’s goal put Mayo in front for the first time and a couple of points quickly followed from Ryan O’Donoghue (free) and Conor Loftus to extend their advantage.
Mayo were now on a roll and they continued to pour forward. Tyrone’s defence was breached again in the 31st minute when O’Shea’s long angled delivery found James Carr and he drilled the ball under Niall Morgan for his third goal in four matches.
James Carr increases Mayo's lead following a sublime pass from Aidan O'Shea. pic.twitter.com/ncoyyBKfOT
— The GAA (@officialgaa) February 25, 2023
A point from the excellent Jack Carney pushed Mayo ahead by 2-5 to 0-4 after 33 minutes as Kevin McStay’s side tapered off their purple patch.
Tyrone were badly in need of a score to stem the tide and it arrived via a well-struck '45 from Morgan in the 34th minute to end a period of 14 minutes without a score for the visitors.
ayo set about putting the issue beyond doubt in the early stages of the second half with Enda Hession weaving his way through the Tyrone defence to score a wonderful goal just five minutes after the restart.
Enda Hession gets Mayo's third goal of the game following a beautiful link-up with Ryan O'Donoghue. pic.twitter.com/lRUPxKXDqD
— The GAA (@officialgaa) February 25, 2023
Hession’s moment of magic left the homeside eight points clear, and despite a neat score from Darragh Canavan and frees from Morgan and Darren McCurry (2), the visitors were unable to get any closer than five points after 60 minutes.
McStay’s men kicked on again in the closing stages with Cillian O’Connor coming off the bench to hit the target and goalkeeper Colm Reape (free), Fionn McDonagh and Jason Doherty also getting on the scoresheet.
Diarmuid O’Connor also rounded off a fine performance with a superbly struck goal in the 68th minute that sent the Mayo supporters home happy.
All Tyrone could muster up by way of scores in the last 15 minutes were token efforts from Frank Burns and Darragh Canavan (free), and their woes were compounded when Conn Kilpatrick was shown a black card before the end.
Mayo top the table on points difference from Roscommon, who they play next week, while Tyrone welcome All-Ireland champions Kerry to Omagh when they will hope to escape the relegation places.
Mayo: C Reape (0-1, 1f); J Coyne, D McBrien, E Hession (1-0); S Coen, C Loftus (0-1), D McHugh; M Ruane (0-1), D O’Connor (1-0); F McDonagh (0-1), J Carney (0-1), J Flynn; A O’Shea (1-0), J Carr (1-0), R O’Donoghue (0-3, 3fs).
Subs: S Callinan for Hession (44); P Durcan for Coyne (44); J Doherty (0-1) for Loftus (51); C O’Connor (0-1) for O’Shea (60); T Conroy for Carr (66).
Tyrone: N Morgan (0-3, 2fs, ‘45); M McKernan, C Munroe, P Hampsey; C Quinn, P Harte, D Mulgrew; B Kennedy, F Burns (0-2); C Meyler, C Kilpatrick, J Oguz; D McCurry (0-4, 3fs), C McShane, D Canavan (0-3, 1f).
Subs: N Devlin for Munroe (41); M Donnelly for McShane (50); R Canavan for Mulgrew (50); K McGeary for Harte (61); L Rafferty for McKernan (70).
Referee: N Mooney (Cavan)
