Impressive Monaghan swat aside Mayo to clinch last four slot

All-Ireland MFC quarter-final

Monaghan 1-15 Mayo 1-8

By Michael McMullan

A POWERFUL showing from Max McGinnity, Tommy Mallen and Matthew Finn shot Monaghan into the All-Ireland semi-finals at the expense of Mayo on Saturday in Carrick on Shannon.

The trio shot nine of their sides tally, but the hunger inside the Farney jersey was something Mayo couldn’t match and when Monaghan added a slick attacking game, a sensational performance was the result.

After an exciting opening, Josh Carrney hit a May goal to put them 1-1 to 0-2 ahead after eight minutes.

Seán Óg McElwain curled over two sweet scores and when Conor Jones slotted to the top corner, it levelled matters, 1-3 each, after 12 minutes.

Then, Monaghan hunted down the Mayo kick-out and their 1-6 to 0-0 blitz had Dermot Malone’s men on their way to a 1-9 to 1-4 interval lead.

Mayo won their first three kick-outs of the second half, but Monaghan again hounded them down and it was Finn and McGinnity that added scores to turn the screw even further.

Monaghan’s spirit was summed up by their hunger in the tackle and three full length blocks from Andrew Stuart (2) and McGinnity to break any chance of Mayo battling their way back into the game.

Monaghan: Jamie Mooney; Cian Greenan, Conor Meehan; Seán Óg McElwain (0-2); Tomás Quinn; Andrew Stuart, Jack Lynch; Matthew Carolan, Conor Jones (1-0); Tommy Mallen (0-3), Donnachadh Connolly, Max McGinnity (0-5, 5f, 1m), Canice Murphy; Matthew Finn (0-4, 1 45), Luke McKenna

Subs: Seán O’Connell (0-1) for M McGinnity (Blood sub 27, reversed HT), S O’Connell for S McElwain (46), Ethan McCaffery for C Meehan (53), Johnny Wright for C Murphy (57), Max Maguire for L McKenna (60), Caolan Clerkin for A Stuart (61)

Yellow card: A Stuart (55)

Mayo: Conor Meaney; James Lavelle, Eoin McGreal, Yousif Coghill; Jamie Clarke, Rio Mortimer. Fionan O’Reilly; Tiernan Egan, Shane Cunningham; Colm Lynch (0-2), Tommy Lydon, (0-2f), Gavin Forry; Darragh Beirne (0-3), Josh Carey (1-0), Senan Gilfoyle

Subs: Thomas Duffy for S Guilfoyle (35), Dara Neary (0-1) for J Carey (39), Seán Walsh for F O’Reilly (42), Fionnan Burke for G Forry (47), Conor Ryder for C Lynch (55)

Yellow cards: T Egan (38), R Mortimer (48)
Red card: J Lavelle (54)

Referee: Enda McFeely (Donegal)