Farney army march past Mayo

Farney army march past Mayo

SEMI-FINAL

Monaghan 2-16

Mayo 1-12

Rob Murphy

Navan

MAYO’S bid to reach a second successive All-Ireland final ended in Navan on Saturday when Michael Ryder’s side succumbed to a hungry Monaghan side after what was for 50 minutes at least, a classic encounter.

The first half was gripping from the outset with the sides matching each other blow for blow. Mayo were keeping tabs on the Ulster champions, and recovered from the concession of a Monaghan goal midway through the half to trail by just one at the break.

The crux of the northerners’ victory march came when they turned that slim interval lead into a four-point advantage midway through the second half. With Mayo’s scoring threat on the decline, Monaghan pushed on to record a comprehensive victory in the closing stages.

The final scoreline was as cruel as it was unexpected for Mayo, as they had offered much in a rip-roaring first 30 minutes. Monaghan led by 1-8 to 0-10, but the contest was impossible to call at that stage with the scores having been level on five occasions.

Cora Staunton was scorer-in-chief for Mayo in that first half with eight points, while the lively Aoife Herbert and the tireless Ciara McDermott also added superb scores. Mayo raced into an early two-point lead, but the contest swung very much in Monaghan’s favour with eight minutes left in the half when Edel Byrne dispatched a penalty to the Mayo net after she had been impeded by Helena Lohan.

Trailing by four at that stage, Mayo managed to drag themselves back into the contest at half time. However, a thundering opening to the second half saw Monaghan outscore their opponents by seven points to two in the third quarter. 

Mayo were on the ropes at that stage, despite some trojan work from Helena Lohan, the inspirational Martha Carter and Marcella Heffernan.  Second half substitute Aoife Loftus, Fiona McHale and Claire Egan never wavered either. In fact, their work rate almost yielded a goal that could have turned the contest on its head, with Lisa Cafferky hitting the post midway through the half. 

Alas, Monaghan had all the answers, with the brilliant forward quartet of Therese McNally, Niamh Kindlon, Ciara McAnespie and Edel Byrne proving impossible to stop. Thus Cora Staunton’s last second penalty acted as merely a consolation. It was McNally who crowned victory with a stunning goal in the closing stage, while McAnespie stole the show with a wonderful exhibition of attacking link play and score-taking. However, the outstanding corner back display of Christina O’Reilly from Magheracloone was the story of the day, coming as it did just days after the tragic death of her brother Alan.

Monaghan were the deserving winners then, but Mayo can hold their heads high after a mammoth effort against a side that seem destined for bigger things this season.

Monaghan

L Martin; G McNally, S Courtney,

C O’Reilly; A McAnespie, A Lennor, F Courtney; A Casey, I Kierans; C McConnell (0-2), N Kindlon (0-7), T McNally (1-0); C McAnespie (0-3), E Byrne (1-4), N Fahy. Subs used: U McNally for

C O’Reilly; E Hackett for N

Kindlon, C Courtney for T

McNally.

Mayo

Y Byrne; N Tierney, H Lohan, N Hurst; M Carter, C McGing, D McDonagh; C Egan, C McDermott (0-1); F McHale (0-1), C Staunton (1-9, 5f), M Heffernan; A Herbert (0-1), L Cafferky, M McGing.

Subs used: S Tierney for C McDermott; A Loftus for D McDonagh; K Sullivan for M McGing; C O’Hara for L Cafferky; N Beegan for C O’Hara.

Referee: K Tigue (Dublin)