Aidan O'Shea of Mayo in action against Stephen McMenamin of Donegal during the Allianz Football League Division 1 match between Mayo and Donegal at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park in Castlebar, Mayo. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile.
Allianz Football League Division 1
MAYO 1-18 DONEGAL 1-16
By Colm Gannon in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park
Mayo's familiar flirtation with danger reached a fever pitch in the closing stages of this final round league game.
When Michael Langan sliced through their defense, netting a crucial point to put Donegal ahead 1-15 to 1-14 with just ten minutes remaining, relegation loomed large for the home side, having only minutes earlier had their feet firmly in the final.
However, Mayo, renowned for their resilience, responded with characteristic grit. Paul Towey's point and a vital two-pointer from Matthew Ruane swung the momentum back, giving Mayo a 1-17 to 1-15 lead with six minutes left on the clock.
The drama intensified. Aaron Doherty earned a penalty after a foul by Eoin O'Donoghue, presenting Donegal with a golden opportunity. Dáire O'Baoill stepped up, but Colm Reape produced a crucial save, diving low to deny the equalizer and preserve Mayo's slender advantage.
The tension remained palpable. Hugh McFadden rattled the woodwork, his goal attempt rebounding off the angle of the post and bar. Doherty then narrowed the gap to a single point with a well-taken score in the 68th minute.
With seconds ticking away, Ryan O'Donoghue delivered the decisive blow, securing a crucial point for Mayo as the final whistle sounded.
Donegal's second-half resurgence had initially erased Mayo's half time lead. Eoin McHugh's goal and a Finbarr Roarty point leveled the scores at 1-8 apiece by the 39th minute.
Mayo then surged, scored five points on the spin, including two two-pointers from O'Donoghue and one from Jordan Flynn, to establish a five-point cushion.
Donegal, however, refused to yield, unleashing a five-point salvo of their own, courtesy of Thompson, Conor O'Donnell (twice), Aaron Doherty, and Shane O'Donnell, drawing level at 1-13 apiece with 20 minutes remaining. From that point on, the match descended into a breathless, nail-biting spectacle. Which ended with Mayo holding on and heading to the league final against the odds.
Mayo staged a second quarter surge in the first half, overturning a two-point deficit to lead by four at the break, largely thanks to Jack Carney's pivotal goal.
The game began quickly, with Carney scoring within 45 seconds. However, Donegal dominated the following 17 minutes, racking up five unanswered points.
Shaun Patton converted a 45, followed by scores from Ciarán Thompson, Niall O'Donnell, and Luke McGlynn, establishing a two-point lead.
Matthew Ruane briefly interrupted Donegal's momentum with a Mayo point. Dáire Ó'Baoill then struck a two-point score on 17 minutes, and nearly doubled this a minute later, only to see his effort rebound off the post.
This near-miss proved costly for Donegal. Mayo capitalized immediately. Ryan O'Donoghue's precise pass set up Carney, who finished clinically from close range, igniting Mayo's comeback. Carney quickly added a point from play, leveling the score.
Frank Irwin then edged Mayo ahead, and further points from O'Donoghue and Irwin extended their lead. Just before the halftime whistle, Carney delivered a superb score, sending Mayo into the interval with a 1-7 to 0-6 advantage, capping an impressive 1-5 to 0-0 run in the final 18 minutes.
Scorers for Mayo: Jack Carney (1-3), Ryan O’Donoghue (0-6, 1 2pt f, 1 2pt), Frank Irwin (0-3), Matthew Ruane (0-3, 1 2pt) Jordan Flynn (0-1), Stephen Coen (0-1) Paul Towey (0-1)
Scorers for Donegal: Eoin McHugh (1-0) Aaron Doherty (0-2) Michael Langan (0-2), Conor O’Donnell (0-2), Dáire Ó Baoill (0-2, 1 2pt), Ciarán Thompson (0-2), Shane O’Donnell (0-2); Niall O’Donnell (0-1), , Luke McGlynn (0-1), Gavin Mulreany (0-1, 145), Finbarr Roarty (0-1)
Mayo: Colm Reape; Jack Coyne, Donnacha McHugh, Enda Hession; Sam Callinan, David McBrien, Fenton Kelly; Stephen Coen, Matthew Ruane; Jack Carney, Darren McHale, Jordan Flynn; Aidan O’Shea, Frank Irwin, Ryan O’Donoghue. Subs: Davitt Neary for McHale; P Towey for O’Shea, E McLaughlin for Kelly, E O’Donoghue for Hession (BS), F Boland for Irwin, D O’Connor for Flynn
Donegal: Gavin Mulreany; Finbarr Roarty, Stephen McMenamin, Brendan McCoole; Ryan McHugh, Caolan McGonagle, Caolan McColgan; Hugh McHugh, Ciaran Moore; Dáire Ó’Baoill, Ciarán Thompson, Shane O’Donnell; Niall O’Donnell, Conor O’Donnell, Luke McGlynn Subs: M Curran for McColgan, A Doherty for N O’Donnell, M Langan for McGlynn, E McHughfor McGonagle, C Ward for McCole
