Monaghan really had no answer to the power and pace of a hungry Mayo side in this quite one-sided game at Scotstown yesterday. Conditions were far from ideal with overnight rain making the ground conditions difficult while a strong wind and intermittent showers throughout the game mitigated against a showpiece spectacle.
Mayo dominated from the start with a goal by David Nestor after just six minutes putting them four points ahead.
By the end of the first quarter, Maurice Sheridan had extended their lead to six points with Monaghan only getting off the mark in the 17th minute when Stephen McGinnity converted a free kick.
Mayo became increasingly dominant through the industry of Pat Fallon and James Nallen in midfield and while Monaghan did tag on two further points Mayo were comfortably ahead at halftime 1-5 to 0-3.
On resumption Monaghan did create a number of openings but a succession of unforced errors saw them reap nothing while James Horan snatched a good point for Mayo on a counter-attack.
In the final 10 minutes Monaghan did come a little more into the game but they were really chasing a lost cause with Michael Moyles and Maurice Sheridan putting Mayo eight points in front. Monaghan pulled back two late points through Stephen McGinnity and Peter Duffy but they were only token scores.
MONAGHAN: G Murphy; P McKenna, D McDermott, N Marron; E Murphy, D McKenna, J Conlon; J Coyle, C Ronaghan; D Swift, D Freeman, P Duffy (0-1); P O'Connor, S McGinnity (0-3), I Larmer (0-2). Subs: J Coyle for D McKenna, F McCaul for P McKenna, C Flanagan for McDermott.
MAYO: P Burke: K Mortimer, K Cahill, S Morley; F Costello, A Roche, A Higgins; P Fallon, J Nallen; C McMenamon (0-2), M Sheridan (0- 5), J Casey; M Moyles (0-1), J Horan (0-2), D Nestor (1-0). Subs: K McDonald for Casey, P Holmes for Higgins.
Referee: E Murtagh (Longford).
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