Image source, InphoImage caption, Mayo almost let an 11-point half-time advantage slip at Clones
ByOdhran CrumleyBBC Sport NI Journalist, AtClones- Published58 minutes ago
Mayo survived a late Monaghan comeback to secure a 1-24 to 2-20 All-Ireland SFC first-round win at Clones.
A late goal from Stephen Mooney, after a two-pointer from Jack McCarron, left two between the sides, but the Farney men were unable to claw back Mayo's 11-point half-time lead after Kobe McDonald's goal.
Monaghan were returning two weeks after their Ulster final defeat to Armagh, and Gabriel Bannigan made three changes to that team.
The Farney men were a dealt a blow with news that Stephen O'Hanlon, who kicked five points in the Ulster final, was ruled out entirely with Ryan McAnespie taking his place on the starting 15.
Mayo were back in action for the first time in almost five weeks, after their Connacht semi-final defeat to eventual champions Roscommon.
In response to that defeat, Andy Moran made six changes, handing out three senior inter-county debuts; Jack Livingstone starting between the sticks, Diarmuid Duffy in defence and Darragh Beirne in the forward line.
Aidan O'Shea also marked his 100th championship appearance, securing a nice piece of history by becoming the first ever outfield player to reach a century of championship caps.
Two-point specialists Mayo
Image source, InphoImage caption, McDonald hit 1-4 for Mayo at Clones
Mayo kicked six two-pointers across the first-half, the first of those coming from the boot of Jack Carney with the opening effort on goal.
The visitors raced into an early four-nil lead, as Andrew Woods had a goal chance expertly saved by debut goalkeeper Livingstone.
The Farney men failed to make anything of their first five attacks, before McCarron's close-range free on 11 minutes finally got them up and running.
Moran's side replied with three two-pointers in as many minutes, another from Carney with Ryan O'Donoghue and Kobe McDonald getting in on the act, the Westerners leading 0-11 to 0-3 after just 22 minutes.
The beaten Ulster finalists looked to respond with scores from Aaron Carey and Oisin McGorman, but McDonald punched into the empty net at the other end, after some fine set-up play from fellow under-20 star Darragh Beirne.
Both sides traded blows before a blast of two-point scores before the break, Andrew Woods with a much-needed two for the home side, before Beirne and O'Donaghue landed efforts from outside of the arc to give Mayo a 1-17 to 0-9 lead at half-time.
Monaghan fightback falls short
Monaghan required another Lazarus-like recovery at the start of the second half, but Mayo would have been forewarned by the Farney men's recovery from 11-points down to beat Derry in the Ulster semi-final.
Substitute Bobby McCaul caused the Mayo full-backline real problems after his introduction at the break as he was twice denied a goal, first by Livingstone and then by the crossbar.
However, the big forward did manage to rattle the back of the net after Dessie Ward had kicked a two-pointer.
McCaul rose high above Enda Hession to claim Mooney's pass before rolling the ball into the back of the net, Conor McCarthy added a score soon after to cut the gap to six with just over 10 minutes to play.
Farney tails were up, but their momentum was quelled by an injury to the influential McCaul, which saw the forward leave the field on a stretcher.
Beirne and Paddy Durcan stretched the Mayo lead to seven, but Monaghan were about to setup a grandstand finish.
McCarron landing from two-point range, before Rory Beggan won the Mayo kick-out to set-up Mooney for a well-taken goal, leaving two between the sides with four to play.
O'Donaghue added a late free to seal the win for Moran's men as Max Maguire's late two-pointer proved to be a mere consolation.
Mayo now have two chances to reach the last eight, while Monaghan lose their safety blanket and head for Round 2B.
Teams and scorers
Monaghan: Rory Beggan (0-2 2x45'); Oisin McGorman (0-1), Killian Lavelle, Dylan Byrne; Aaron Carey (0-1), Ryan O'Toole, Dessie Ward (0-2 1x2pt); Micheal McCarville, Karl Gallagher; Conor McCarthy, Micheal Bannigan (0-1f), Conor McCarthy (0-2); Jack McCarron (0-3 1f), Andrew Woods (0-2 1x2pt), David Garland.
Subs: Max Maguire (0-2 1x2pt) for R McAnespie (25), Bobby McCaul (1-1) for D Garland, Ryan Wylie for A Carey (both HT), Stephen Mooney (1-0) for O McGorman (54), Fionan Carolan for B McCaul (59)
Mayo: Jack Livingstone; Jack Coyne, Donnacha McHugh, Enda Hession; Sam Callinan, David McBrien, Diarmuid Duffy; Stephen Coen, Jack Carney (0-4 2x2pt), Hugh O'Loughlin; Conor Loftus (0-1), Jordan Flynn (0-2); Darragh Beirne (0-4 1x2pt), Ryan O'Donoghue (0-8 1x2pt, 1x2ptf, 2f), Kobe McDonald (1-4 1x2pt).
Subs: Paul Towey for C Loftus, Paddy Durcan (0-1) for S Coen (both 49), Fenton Kelly for D Duffy (58), Aidan O'Shea for H O'Loughlin (59), Diarmuid O'Connor for D Beirne (63)
Referee: David Coldrick (Meath)
