Monaghan too good for 13-man Mayo

Monaghan 2-16

Mayo 0-13

Monaghan continue to remain in the hunt for a place in the NFL Division 1 decider after their impressive nine-point defeat of Mayo in Clones on Sunday.

It was a disappointing day all around for the current champions who had Jordan Flynn and Padraig O’Hora both sent off.

The sides were level at the break at 1-5 to 0-8 with man of the match Conor McCarthy netting the Farney side’s goal. Things remained tight up until the third quarter before Seamus McEnaney’s men finally took hold.

With Mayo losing their discipline and with Kieran Duffy netting a second goal for the hosts, Banty’s team closed out matters comfortably through the likes of McCarthy and Conor McManus in the final 10 minutes.

Monaghan visit Ballyshannon next Sunday to take on reigning Ulster champions Donegal.

Monaghan: R Beggan (0-1, 1f); D Wylie, C Boyle (0-1), K Duffy (1-0); K O’Connell (0-1), R Wylie, M Bannigan; D Hughes, N Kearns (0-1); R McAnespie, C McCarthy (1-3), D Ward; D Malone, K Hughes, C McManus (0-6, 3f, 1 mark).

Subs: S Carey for Malone (12 mins, blood); J McCarron (0-2, 1f) for Malone (41 mins); C Walshe for Wiley (54 mins); S Carey (0-1) for Bannigan (59 mins); C McGuinness for McManus (72 mins); P Keenan for Kearns (74 mins).

Mayo: R Hennelly; P O’Hora (0-1), O Mullin (0-1), L Keegan; S Coen, M Plunkett, P Durcan; D O’Connor (0-1, 1f), A O’Shea; F Boland, R O’Donoghue (0-1), J Flynn (0-1); K McLoughlin (0-3, 2fs), D Coen (0-3), J Durcan (0-1, 1mark).

Subs: T Conroy for Boland; K Higgins for J Durcan; P Towey (0-1) for D Coen; C Loftus for R O’Donoghue; E O’Donoghue for Plunkett.

Referee: A Nolan (Wicklow).