Donegal guaranteed themselves of a home preliminary quarter-final in the All-Ireland SFC in the most dramatic fashion to dump Mayo out of the competition.
Donegal 0-19 Mayo 1-15
With the score level with seconds to play following a score by Feral Boland, it was enough to take Mayo through, only for Ciaran Moore to break away and score with the last play of the game.
It means that Donegal confirmed a second-place finish in Group 1, missing out on top spot to Tyrone due to the head-to-head rule but more than happy to take a home preliminary quarter-final this coming weekend. Their possible opponents now are Cork, Galway and Louth. Moore’s last point kept Cavan in, too, with Stephen Rochford’s Mayo left with much to ponder.
Donegal’s bouncing back from a goal by Mayo’s David McBrien in the final quarter, with a Daire Ó Baoill two-pointer, was imperative, as was a brilliant double-save from Shaun Patton in the 67th minute from Jack Carney and Paul Towey. It was edge of the seat stuff.
Mayo had beaten Donegal three times since McGuinness masterminded the 2012 All-Ireland and needed to do so again in front of 18,731 in the Roscommon sunshine.
Donegal’s Caolan McColgan breaks past Mayo’s Aidan O’Shea during Sunday’s game. Photo Evan Logan
After opening day defeats, Donegal losing out to Tyrone in MacCumhaill Park and Mayo tasting defeat against Cavan, the pair bounced back on the second weekend with away wins.
Donegal’s 2-26 to 1-13 win over the Breffni side left them top of the group before a ball was kicked on Sunday, while Mayo were second thanks to a 2-17 to 1-14 victory in Omagh two weeks ago.
There were returns to the starting 15 for Shaun Patton and Oisin Gallen as the game had a fast start, Peadar Mogan pointing soon after the throw-in, with Mayo getting the kick out away and Darren McHale converting before we even hit the one minute mark.
Good turnovers led to rapid moves from Donegal, with Michael Murphy setting up Mogan and Caolan McColgan for points, but they were soon down a man as Mogan received a black card for a trip on Ryan O’Donoghue.
O’Donoghue would convert that free and another after a McHale score as Mayo took the lead, but they couldn’t use that man advantage to build up more of a lead.
Eoghan Ban Gallagher had a goal chance go wide and there were a couple of misses from the green and gold, but once Mogan returned, after a 14 minute absence, Michael Murphy kicked a two point free.
Ciaran Thompson’s free was hit back by Donnacha McHugh as there was a swift end to the half.
A quick team move was finished off by Oisin Gallen, but Ryan O’Donoghue got his first score from play straight after.
Donegal’s Eoghan Bán Gallagher on a run past Mayo’s Darren McHale during Sunday’s game. Photo Evan Logan
Donegal won the kick out and Conor O’Donnell finished off a fast move, and Finnbarr Roarty fisted over as the hooter sounded for a 0-9 to 0-6 lead.
Mayo got an early score after the restart as Jack Carney fisted over, before Donegal had two goal chances as Oisin Gallen just lost his footing at the wrong time and a minute later Shane O’Donnell’s shot was saved by Colm Reape.
An O’Donoghue free made it a one point game momentarily, but Murphy soon replied, while Conal Dawson and Thompson traded scores.
Dawson pointed again on the left but Conor O’Donnell kicked a great score at the other end and as Donegal won the kick out, Ciaran Moore charged forward and split the posts.
O’Donoghue kicked a 13 metre free after a Donegal breach and as Michael Langan got overturned high up, a goal chance was on for Jack Carney but Shaun Patton saved, although they pointed soon after through McHale.
And as Murphy’s loose pass was picked up, David McBrien burst forward, playing a 1-2 with O’Shea before firing in off the post for the goals only game.
Dáire Ó Baoill responded with a superb two pointer to level again, and Donegal went back ahead through Murphy and Shane O’Donnell points.
Donegal’s Michael Murphy sets up a first half attack during Sunday’s game. Photo Evan Logan
Jordan Flynn got space to make it a one point game but Patton’s huge kick out should have ended in a goal as Colm Reape came out, with Ó Baoill finding Patrick McBrearty, but Reape got back to put it out for a ‘45, which Murphy converted.
Mayo had goal chances as they broke forward and Carney and Paul Towey both had shots saved, but O’Donoghue’s free left one in it again in the last few minutes.
Donegal tried to keep possession but they got overturned and with 15 seconds left, Fergal Boland levelled the game.
But Patton got the kick out away quick and as the hooter sounded, Ciaran Moore burst down the left, he cut in and curled over the match winner to ensure second place for Donegal and a home draw in the preliminary quarter-final.
Donegal’s Conor O’Donnell looks for a way past Mayo’s Enda Hession during Sunday’s game. Photo Evan Logan
Donegal scorers: Michael Murphy 0-5, 1tpf, 45; Ciaran Moore 0-3 Peadar Mogan, Conor O’Donnell 0-2; Daire Ó Baoill 0-2, 1tp; Ciaran Thompson 0-2, 1f; Caolan McColgan 0-1; Oisin Gallen, Finbarr Roarty and Shane O’Donnell 0-1.
Mayo scorers: Ryan O’Donoghue 0-6, 5f; David McBrien 1-0; Darren McHale 0-3; Conal Dawson 0-2; Donnacha McHugh, Jack Carney, Jordan Flynn, Fergal Boland 0-1
Donegal: Shaun Patton; Finnbarr Roarty; Brendan McCole, Peadar Mogan; Ryan McHugh, Eoghan Ban Gallagher, Ciaran Moore; Hugh McFadden, Michael Langan; Caolan McColgan, Ciaran Thompson, Shane O’Donnell; Conor O’Donnell, Michael Murphy, Oisin Gallen.
Subs: Jason McGee and Daire Ó Baoill for McFadden and Gallen (52), Patrick McBrearty for McHugh (58), Eoin McHugh for S O’Donnell (57).
Mayo: Colm Reape; Jack Coyne, Rory Brickenden, Enda Hession; Stephen Coen, David McBrien, Paddy Durcan; Donnacha McHugh, Matthew Ruane; Conal Dawson, Jack Carney, Bob Tuohy; Aidan O’Shea, Darren McHale, Ryan O’Donoghue.
Subs: Jordan Flynn for Tuohy (22), Davitt Neary for D McHugh (43), Sean Morahan for Hession (52), Paul Towey for Neary (56), Fergal Boland for Coen (57).
Referee: Paul Faloon (Down).
