Tyrone v Mayo TG4 Semi Final Preview

Roll the clock back to the Summer of 2000 and it was the newly
crowned and first Ulster senior football champions Tyrone who
were up against Mayo in the all Ireland semi-final. Croke Park
hosted the tie but it was a day to forget for the lady footballers
of Tyrone as the Cora Staunton led Connacht champions beat their
Ulster counterparts 5-10 to 2-12 with full forward Staunton bagging
3-6.

A day indeed best forgotten but five of the current Tyrone panel
will renew acquaintances with the Mayo side on September 1st again
in the all Ireland semi-final with Kingspan Breffni Park the venue
on this occasion. The draw for the last four was made last Saturday
after Cork had easily accounted for Dublin and Kildare proved
no match for Laois at Wexford Park, in terms of this particular
draw, Cork were the team everyone wanted to avoid, so in that
respect the tussle with Mayo albeit another tough game in reality
gives Tyrone a real chance of progression. An early season National
league defeat will have no bearing on this semi-final and it’s
a vastly improved Tyrone that Mayo once again driven by Staunton
must face. In the quarter final the Mayo victory over Monaghan
lacked real intensity of pace, Mayo hit 1-12 Staunton with 1-8
of that, so could it be stop Staunton and Mayo have nothing else
to offer. On current evidence that would certainly seem to be
the case.

The real battle then at Cavan will be between Lynda Donnelly and
the mayo dual star, dual as in soccer and football, Donnelly faced
the Mayo challenge in 2000 on the half back line, she is looking
forward to the battle again, Maura Kelly fielded at full back,
Siobhan McGarvey wore number six and Eilish Gormley struck 0-9
from full forward. A youngster named Katrina Murphy came on as
sub and Connie Fox better known now as a teak tough defender for
An Charraig Mhor started at midfield. Times and teams have changed
but the rivalry is still there, Tyrone will have to prepare without
Marie Gallagher and the irreplaceable Neamh Woods but confidence
is good, manager Jimmy McGloughan is in fine form and its low
key build up to the semi-final.

No looking past that outing though on September first, the meeting
with Mayo is the only thing on the minds of Tyrone, but the buzz
is starting to build, McGloughan says his players are not getting
caught up in it . For them its focus. Focus , Focus.