Mayo slow to get going but goals turn tide

ALLIANZ NFL DIVISION ONE Mayo 2-12 Monaghan 0-15:TABLE-TOPPERS MAYO have one foot in the National League final after twice coming from arrears of six points to reel in relegation-threatened Monaghan at McHale Park, Castlebar, yesterday before a crowd of about 7,000.

After a game that burst to life in the second half, Mayo manager John O’Mahony was first to offer some solace to a battling Monaghan side. “We had only 25 per cent of possession but it was the goals which really turned the game in our favour and gives us a chance now to qualify for the final.

“Donal Vaughan’s one just before half-time was crucial as we struggled all over the place in that first half,” said O’Mahony whose main worry is a leg injury to Keith Higgins who had to be helped off the pitch 10 minutes into the second half.

Those goals couldn’t have been better timed, the first coming in the fourth minute of injury-time at the end of the first half.

Tom Parsons put wing-back Donal Vaughan through, and his bullet from close-range left goalkeeper Shane Duffy no chance.

It left Mayo with a very flattering 1-4 to 0-9 lead after they had been outplayed by a hungrier, more organised Monaghan side who dominated at the back and at midfield, where Paul Finlay partnered Dick Clerkin.

Finlay kicked four points in that half alone, three from frees, while full-back Darren Hughes, who was operating on the half-back line for most of that half, hit two long efforts, including a 45 to put Monaghan six points clear as the game moved into injury time. Two of Mayo’s three points at that stage had come from Alan Dillon and the third from Vaughan.

Mayo were thrown a lifeline with a point from Mark Ronaldson and Vaughan’s goal to leave the score 1-4 to 0-9.

Monaghan again upped their performance early in the second half as Finlay hit three points, one from play, while a fine effort from Conor McManus had them six clear again.

But the goal which turned this game came from a long ball in to Aiden O’Shea who beat the goalkeeper with a stunning finish.

Enda Varley and Conor Mortimer (free) followed with points to level matters with 15 minutes left as Mayo grew in confidence.

Mark Ronaldson and Varley pushed Mayo two clear, and although Finlay brought it back to a single-point game three minutes from time Mayo were growing in strength. Séamus O’Shea put in a powerful second half at midfield and points from Andy Moran and Parsons sealed victory.

MAYO: D Clarke; L O'Malley, K Conroy, K Higgins; D Vaughan (1-1), T Howley, K McLoughlin (0-1); T Parsons (0-1), S O'Shea; A Moran (0-1), A O'Shea (1-0), T Mortimer; E Varley (0-2, 1f), A Dillon (0-2, 1f), C Mortimer (0-1, f). Subs: M Ronaldson (0-2)for Dillon (32 mins), C Barrett (0-1)for Higgins (43 mins), G Cafferkey for Howley (63 mins).

MONAGHAN: S Duffy; D McArdle, D Hughes, C Greenan; C Walshe, N McAdam, K Hughes (0-2, 45, 1f); D Mone, P Finlay (0-8, 7f); D Clerkin, S Gollogly (0-1), D Malone; C McManus (0-3, 1f), H McElroy, T Freeman (0-1). Subs: C Hanratty for McIlroy (23 mins), V Corey for McArdle (h-t), R Woods for D Malone (57 mins), JP Mone for Gollogly (60 mins).

Referee: Hickey(Clare).