Mayo survive Farney fightback in Clones

An incredible second-half fightback by Monaghan almost denied Mayo victory in Sunday’s All-Ireland SFC first-round clash in Clones but ultimately the decision of manager Andy Moran to ring the changes after his side’s Connacht semi-final defeat to Roscommon proved justified, with the Green and Red winning 1-24 to 2-20 against the beaten Ulster finalists.

Everything had looked to be going as smoothly for Mayo as when they annihilated Monaghan at the same venue during this year’s National Football League clash, leading by a dozen points after Jordan Flynn scored the first point after half-time.

A goal and four points by Flynn’s teenage brother Kobe McDonald allied with four pointers by Jack Carney, two, Darragh Beirne and Ryan O’Donoghue, had helped the visitors into a 1-17 to 0-9 interval lead. However, it would take an exceptional display of goalkeeping throughout the game by debutant Jack Livingstone to make sure Mayo placed themselves into this week’s Round 2A draw.

The Breaffy man, one of six changes to the team beaten by Roscommon, produced a plethora of excellent saves, including three from second-half Monaghan substitute Bobby McCaul who had made a massive difference before his unfortunate removal by stretcher with twelve minutes left to play. McCaul had just scored a quickfire 1-1 yet Mayo remained seven points ahead with as many minutes left to play.

The excellent Ryan O’Donoghue would earn a precious late free which he converted for Mayo but in between, two pointers by Jack McCarron and Max Maguire, either side of an excellent Stephen Mooney goal, meant the locals were just one point behind with 10 seconds left to play after the next kickout. Livingstone’s boomer was crucially fetched by McDonald – all in a week’s work for the Crossmolina boy who on Wednesday will commence his Leaving Cer examinations.

See Tuesday’s Western People for extensive coverage, including a full report, reaction, analysis and opinion.