With their backs to the wall, Mayo found the answers. They always do.
The westerners traveled to Omagh on Sunday in genuine trouble. Cavan’s draw with Kerry meant that Stephen Rochford’s men were joint on points with the relegation places and they had the thankless task of trying to oust Tyrone of all teams from their own turf.
After 75 minutes of hard-hitting football that was blended with some beautiful pieces of play, controversial decisions, mean defending and then complete and utter nerves, Mayo came out on top with nothing to spare, winning 1-10 to 0-12.
With both sides having failed to score for over 13-odd minutes towards the end of the game, every inch was crucial as the teams sat level and the ball seemed to refuse to go dead.
Up and down the pitch it went, chances came, chances were missed and neither made any in-roads into taking the game by the scruff of the neck.
Tom Parsons had already struck with deadly effect in the first half when he planted a glorious finish with pure conviction into the bottom corner of Niall Morgan’s net but he would be required for one last piece of brilliance before the game was out.
Tom Parsons!
Beautiful hair, beautiful finishing— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) March 26, 2017
In injury time, Kevin McLoughlin’s majestic top of the laces effort put Mayo one point to the good but Tyrone came strong up Healy Park to rescue the situation and, if it wasn’t for Parsons, Rochford’s outfit might be sitting much more nervous this evening looking at the table and the final day fixtures.
Sean Cavanagh is a frightening prospect in this position.
The Tyrone man could run over the top of the biggest of them. He can shimmy, he can kick from distance, he can bloody hurt you.
Tom Parsons is having none of it.
The unstoppable force meets the immovable object.
Cavanagh is sent to the ground.
Parsons gobbles him up until possession is coughed up.
Mayo win the ball back at a crucial stage in a crucial area and Tyrone don’t get another chance.
They hang on for the win to move two clear of Cavan in the league table with one game left. They’re sitting pretty enough now but Tom Parsons isn’t celebrating.
“We still have a lot of work to do. We won’t be getting very excited in the dressing room,” the man of the match bellied afterwards.
“It just goes to show when you’re playing very defensive football, every score is vital.
“Did we play excellent football there? No. Did we work really hard and was our defensive set-up good? Yes it was.”
Now, they look to Donegal. Then, they look to the championship.
With men like Parsons leading the way, they won’t be getting too far ahead of themselves. They’ll be ready for the summer.
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