Mayo hold off Armagh to retain Division 1 status
Mayo’s Kobe McDonald celebrates at the final whistle. Picture: INPHO/James Crombie
Mayo’s place in Division 1 of the National League is secure for another year after holding off a late surge from Armagh this afternoon.
The 10,988 who braved the elements at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park had their nerves tested going down the home stretch, but Kobe McDonald had another big impact off the bench with two points as well as playing a role in Mayo’s second goal.
The green and red elected to play with the stiff wind in the first half, and got off to a great start thanks to Jordan Flynn’s soccer style finish into the net.
Mayo scored only two other points in the first 12 minutes, with Armagh defending the arc well. Armagh themselves only scored five points in the half, but both Darragh McMullan and Jarly Óg Burns were denied goals by Robbie Hennelly.
The two-pointers did arrive in the second quarter – four on the spin, in fact – thanks to Flynn, Loftus, Ryan O’Donoghue and Cian McHale as Mayo led 1-11 to 0-5 at half-time.
Armagh now how the wind but Mayo outscored them 0-3 to 0-2 in the opening nine minutes of the second half, but the Orchard men got their act together with seven points on the spin, including two-pointers from Greg McCabe and Oisin O’Neill.
McDonald would be sprung from the bench at this stage, and the 18-year-old was involved in the buildup for a huge goal on 55 minutes, Cian McHale finishing off a rapid breakaway move. Kobe followed it up with his first point but Armagh were back to within one thanks to Cian McConville, Darragh McMullan and a two-point free by Oisin O’Neill.
Six minutes of regulation time were left, and Callinan and McDonald made it a three-point game. O’Neill and McCabe brought it back to one with seconds left, but Mayo won the next kickout and held on for an important win.
