Allianz Football League Division One

Mayo 2-30 Monaghan 2-11

By Colm Shalvey at St Tiernach’s Park

Mayo returned to winning ways in emphatic fashion with a comprehensive victory over Monaghan in Clones.

An already very satisfying day for Andy Moran took on an extra dimension with the introduction of 18-year-old Kobe McDonald, who plundered 1-4 from play in a tantalising display of his talent.

Bob Tuohy’s display at midfield was another big positive for Mayo, who kept their foot on the pedal after kicking five two-pointers with the breeze in the first half, including a late brace from Fergal Boland. Rory Beggan’s absence added to Monaghan’s growing list as they fell to a fourth consecutive defeat of a trying league campaign.

Despite Ryan O’Donoghue blazing a penalty over the bar, Mayo led by 0-17 to 0-6 at half-time, courtesy of Boland’s double-double, with Darragh Beirne, Jack Carney and Jordan Flynn also accounting for orange flags.

Mícheál Bannigan kicked three first-half points for Monaghan, but they were left with an uphill task after Mayo’s late flourish.

Jack McCarron hit 1-2 within 10 minutes of his introduction as Monaghan briefly threatened to close the gap, but Aidan O’Shea’s goal put a stop to that as Mayo fired in a flurry of scores midway through the half.

Starlet McDonald was outstanding during that spell, with his personal highlights reel featuring a brilliantly-taken goal and a two-pointer into the breeze.

Debutant Robbie Hanratty flicked to the net for Monaghan, but Mayo finished with another burst, ending with a remarkable tally of 2-30 from 10 scorers.

Scorers for Mayo: Kobe McDonald 1-4 (1 2-pt); Darragh Beirne 0-5 (1 2-pt-f, 1f); Fergal Boland 0-5 (2 2-pt); Jordan Flynn 0-5 (1 2-pt); Aidan O’Shea 1-1; Ryan O’Donoghue 0-4 (1f, 1 pen); Jack Carney 0-2 (1 2-pt); Paddy Durcan 0-2; Sam Callinan 0-1; Rob Hennelly 0-1 (’45).

Scorers for Monaghan: Jack McCarron 1-2 (0-1f); Mícheál Bannigan 0-4 (1f); Robbie Hanratty 1-0; Stephen O’Hanlon 0-2 (1 2-pt); Andrew Woods 0-2 (1f); Mícheál McCarville 0-1.

Mayo: Rob Hennelly; Enda Hession, Donnacha McHugh, Jack Coyne; Sam Callinan, Conor Loftus, Paddy Durcan; Bob Tuohy, David McBrien; Jordan Flynn, Ryan O’Donoghue, Jack Carney; Darragh Beirne, Aidan O’Shea, Fergal Boland.

Subs: Kobe McDonald for Beirne (52); Michael Plunkett for Loftus (54); Paul Towey for Carney, Seán Morahan for Durcan (both 58); Stephen Coen for Boland (62).

Monaghan: Kian Mulligan; Ryan Wylie, Ryan Mohan, Cameron Dowd; Dessie Ward, Ryan O’Toole, Daragh McElearney; Mícheál McCarville, Gary Mohan; Oisín McGorman, Aaron Carey, Thomas Hughes; Mícheál Bannigan, Andrew Woods, Stephen O’Hanlon.

Subs: Jack McCarron for McElearney (H-T); Robbie Hanratty for Hughes (49); Karl Gallagher for G Mohan, Eddie Walsh for McGorman (both 56); Fionán Carolan for Woods (66).

Referee: David Gough (Meath).