Mayo power past Tyrone in Healy Park

For the second week running Mayo racked up a big score en route to victory against Ulster opponents in the Nickey Rackard Cup, the Green and Red beating Tyrone by 1-24 to 0-9 in Healy Park, Omagh, this afternoon.

After Monaghan felt the brunt of Mayo's power play last week, Tyrone were the latest victims, although had the home team shown more accuracy early on the game might not have been as one-sided.

The Red Hand county had a number of players unavailable, so their preparation was far from ideal.

Mayo, on the other hand, were almost at full strength and showed just one change to the starting 15 from last week's win, Brian Morley in from the start this week, with Tooreen club-mate Daniel Huane dropping to the bench.

No more that at home in Mayo, Storm Aiden left his calling card in Omagh and it made fluid hurling difficult as the wind swirled and, in the second half, the rain came flooding down.

Mayo started better, showing more composure and, crucially, accuracy in front of the posts, with Shane Boland (two, one free), Eoin Delaney, Cathal Freeman and Morley on target as they enjoyed a 0-5 to 0-1 lead at the first water break.

Damian Casey was Tyrone's leading light and he accounted for Tyrone's point, and added another free after play resumed.

Tyrone were guilty of some poor wides in those opening 20 minutes, however, and were also denied a couple of goals by some tigerish Mayo defending.

By half-time Mayo enjoyed a 0-14 to 0-3 lead, Branan Molloy with Tyrone's third point as Mayo scored freely from all angles, Boland leading the charge from play and placed ball, with Adrian Philips (two), Corey Scahill (two), Jason Coyne and Morley chipping in as well.

When Coyne found the back of the Tyrone net in the very first minute of the second half, the game was as good as over as contest.

Tyrone will take some heart from a second-half performance in which they landed six points into the wind but Mayo tacked on 10 points following that early goal by Coyne, a number of them frees from Boland and Sean Kenny but a couple of outstanding scores from play as well, including eye-catching long-range efforts from David Kenny and substitute Sean Regan.

The win leaves Mayo with a free weekend to prepare for a home semi-final in two weeks' time, while Tyrone have a chance to regroup before going into their Round 2B clash next weekend.

Tyrone: C. McElhatton; S.P. McKernan, D. Rafferty, L. Ó Donnghaile; J. Ferguson, S. Donaghy, C. Munroe; D. Casey (0-6, 0-5f, 0-1 65'), C. Cross; C. Lagan, B. McGurk, K. Morgan; B. Molloy (0-2), S. Grogan, B. Gormley. Subs used: J. McGurk (0-1), M. Mulgrew, S. O'Hagan, P. Hughes.

Mayo: G. Kelly; G. Nolan, S. Coyne, J. Cassidy; B. Hunt, D. Kenny (0-1), C. Freeman (0-1); A. Philips (0-2), S. Mulroy; S. Kenny (0-2f), S. Boland (0-8, 0-6f), C. Scahill (0-3); J. Coyne (1-2), B. Morley (0-2), E. Delaney (0-1). Subs used: S. Regan (0-1), L. Hurley, L. Lavin, C. Henry, C. Philips (0-1).

*Pictured above, action from Mayo's Nickey Rackard Cup Round 2A clash against Tyrone in Omagh this afternoon. Photo: @MayoGAA