Peter Canavan: Darren McCurry's arrival transformed Tyrone

RTÉ football analyst Peter Canavan says the introduction of Darren McCurry transformed Tyrone's attack in their crucial four-point win over Mayo in Healy Park last Saturday.

After successive defeats to Derry and Galway, Tyrone trailed Mayo by three points at the midway point and there was little reason to suspect they weren't bound for a third defeat on the trot, a result which would have left them in serious trouble of slipping into the second tier, with games against Dublin and Kerry still to come.

However, 2021 All-Ireland final MOTM McCurry was sprung at half-time and proceeded to terrorise Mayo once more, landing 0-08 in a bravura display that turned the tables and delivered the hosts a revivifying victory.

Better again, McCurry's arrival liberated Darragh Canavan to an even greater extent, the latter blasting a goal early in the second period and finished with 1-03 from play.

"Tyrone were lacklustre [in the first half]. There didn't appear to be any spirit or any fight in them," said Canavan Snr on Game On on RTÉ 2fm.

"It was hard to look at. It was very pedestrian, the first half. Very similar to the way they played against Galway.

"Whatever Brian Dooher said to them at half-time, everyone of them, there was a bit more fire in the belly. They were tackling, chasing Mayo down, turning them over.

"That energy transcended into their play going forward as well. They went at Mayo with pace and purpose, coupled with the fact that Darren McCurry came onto the pitch. He didn't start.

"Darragh (Canavan) up front was fighting a lone battle for a good part of the first half. With McCurry up there, there was a much better link between the midfield and the forward line. Darren wanted to prove a point himself and he certainly did that.