Second half comeback sees Mayo into All-Ireland quarter-final
Mayo’s Kobe McDonald celebrates a score against Meath. Picture: INPHO/Ryan Byrne
Mayo booked their place in the All-Ireland SFC quarter-final after an excellent second half comeback over Meath in Castlebar.
Jordan Morris opened the scoring for the visitors on two minutes, and Jack Livingstone just kept out a two-point attempt by Morris from dropping into the net with two Meath players waiting to captialise.
Ryan O’Donoghue shortly levelled it for Mayo before Sean Brennan converted a ’45 after Jack O’Connor saw his goal-bound effort denied by Livingstone.
Meath were in full control and scored the next three points through James Conlon, Matthew Costello and Cian McBride. Kobe McDonald stemmed the tide for Mayo with his first point, but Meath soon cut through the Mayo defence and Ciarán Caulfield rolled the ball past Livingstone for their first goal.
Bryan Menton and Morris, who were tormenting Mayo at this point, added further points before McDonald, who was denied a goal of his own by Brennan, guided over a ’45 on 23 minutes. However, Meath added a second goal a minute later as another devastating run through the Mayo backline reaped the maximum reward, with Seán Coffey finding the net.
Mayo finished the half with the momentum, scoring four of the last five points through Enda Hession (two), Jordan Flynn and Kobe McDonald but Meath’s lead remained strong at half-time, 2-8 to 0-7. McDonald’s score could have been more as Conor Loftus was in on goal for Mayo following a swift counterattack. He sliced his effort well wide of goal, but McDonald kept it alive to send over his third of the evening.
Despite the first two-pointer of the game from Jordan Flynn and a point from Bob Tuohy, the gap remained at seven ten minutes into the second half thanks to Meath scores by Jack O’Connor, Conlon and Jack Flynn.
The tide was beginning to turn in Mayo’s favour however, as they kicked four of the next five points, while Enda Hession was denied a major by Seán Brennan.
The big turning point arrived on 54 minutes as Meath’s Ronan Jones, three minutes after coming on, was shown a straight red card for an off the ball incident involving Jack Coyne.
A second two-pointer from Jordan Flynn and singles from Ryan O’Donoghue and Tommy Conroy levelled the game for the first time since the third minute, but Meath went back in front through Jack O’Connor, while Caulfield saw a huge goal opportunity kept out by Livingstone.
It was all Mayo from here. Jack Carney’s superb two-pointer put Mayo in front for the first time, and they confirmed their place in the last eight with late points from O’Donoghue and McDonald.
