Padraig O'Hora of Mayo is tackled by Colm Lennon of Monaghan during the Allianz Football League Division 1 match between Monaghan and Mayo at St Tiernach's Park in Clones, Monaghan. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile.
Allianz Football League Division One
Mayo 2-13 Monaghan 1-14
By Colm Shalvey at St. Tiernach's Park
Mayo signed off on the Allianz NFL with a late comeback to deny Monaghan in Clones. Although there was little on the line, the teams served up a game that built to an exciting finish, where Mayo hit the last 1-2 to turn a three-point deficit around. Despite playing more than half of the game with 14 men and finishing with 13, Monaghan looked for long spells like they were in line to stop their losing run, only for Mayo to steal the points, spurred on by a late goal from Matthew Ruane.
Monaghan started brightly with points from Jason Irwin and Gary Mohan, but a brace of frees by Ryan O’Donoghue got Mayo up and running and although Karl O’Connell regained the hosts’ advantage, the lead changed hands again on 12 minutes when Darren McHale blasted home the opening goal. A Matthew Ruane point moved Mayo three clear, but they then went 14 minutes without adding to their tally, allowing Monaghan to get back on level terms via Mícheál Bannigan (two) and Ciarán McNulty. Monaghan were reduced to 14 men, however, after Andrew Woods was sent off.
An Aidan O’Shea free ended Mayo’s scoring drought, but points from Seán Jones and Bannigan had Monaghan 0-8 to 1-4 up at half-time. Monaghan were first out of the traps for the second half with points by Jones and David Garland, although O’Donoghue replied with another brace. Barry McBennett and Bannigan kept Monaghan just ahead, but Mayo stayed in touch via Ruane and sub Cillian O’Connor.
Fergal Boland and McHale brought Mayo level inside the last ten minutes, but Monaghan got a much-needed boost when Kevin Loughran hit the net. The home side, who lost the lively Bannigan to injury after using all of their subs, gifted Mayo an equalising goal, however, when Ruane pounced on a turnover deep inside their half to slot home. The visitors added points from O’Donoghue and Pádraig O’Hora to seal their fourth win of the league.
Mayo travel to New York for their Connacht SFC opener, while Monaghan have a more local affair against Cavan in Clones.
Scorers for Mayo: Ryan O’Donoghue 0-5f; Matthew Ruane 1-2; Darren McHale 1-1; Cillian O’Connor 0-2 (1f, 1m); Pádraig O’Hora 0-1; Aidan O’Shea 0-1f; Fergal Boland 0-1.
Scorers for Monaghan: Mícheál Bannigan 0-4 (2f); Kevin Loughran 1-0; Jason Irwin 0-2; David Garland 0-2 (1f, 1m); Seán Jones 0-2; Gary Mohan 0-1m; Karl O’Connell 0-1; Barry McBennett 0-1; Ciarán McNulty 0-1m.
Mayo: Rory Byrne; Pádraig O’Hora, Eoin O’Donoghue, Rory Brickenden; Paddy Durcan, Jack Coyne, Sam Callinan; Matthew Ruane, Stephen Coen; Darren McHale, David McBrien, Enda Hession; Ryan O’Donoghue, Aidan O’Shea, Tommy Conroy.
Subs: Michael Plunkett for Callinan (inj., 25); Cillian O’Connor for McBrien (H-T); Fergal Boland for Durcan, James Carr for E O’Donoghue (both 49); Bob Tuohy for O’Shea (60).
Monaghan: Darren McDonnell; Colm Lennon, Killian Lavelle, Ryan O’Toole; Karl O’Connell, Dessie Ward, Ryan Wylie; Gary Mohan, Darren Hughes; Ciarán McNulty, Mícheál Bannigan, Jason Irwin; Conor McCarthy; Andrew Woods, Seán Jones. Subs: David Garland for Ward, Kevin Loughran for Lavelle (both inj., 34); Barry McBennett for Jones (46); Conor Leonard for Mohan (49); Mícheál McCarville for Leonard (inj., 54); Joel Wilson for Hughes (61).
Referee: Niall Cullen (Fermanagh)