Mayo survive nervy finish
Mayo retained the All-Ireland MCHC title yesterday when they held off a late Monaghan comeback at Ballinamore on Saturday.
First-half goals from Sam Forde and Seán Brogan helped the Connacht men into a six-point half-time lead, but 17 wides in total allowed Monaghan to stay in touch with their marginally superior opponents.
A goal from Monaghan substitute Ciarán Cassidy heightened tensions in the Mayo section of the crowd before a long-range injury-time strike from Robert Comer settled nerves and made Mayo’s win secure.
Scorers for Mayo: S Brogan & S Forde 1-1 each, S Kenny 0-3 (1f), R Comer, J Coyne 0-2 each, D Freyne (65), J Gallagher 0-1 each.
Scorers for Monaghan: R Curran 0-5 (3f), C Cassidy 1-0, S Mohan, M MacSuibhne 0-2 each, C Flynn 0-1.
MAYO: M Parsons; A Henry, M Phillips, D Flannery; C Ludden, D Freyne, J Lyons; J Gallagher, C Murray; S Kenny, S Brogan, N Robinson; J Coyne, R Comer, S Forde.
Subs: A Ferguson for Freyne (52), E Flannery for Ludden (57), M Waldron for Forde (60).
MONAGHAN: C Kerr; R O’Neill, N Flood, N Mac Suibhne; C Power, T Bramley, K Tomany; C Boyle, S Mohan; J Dooley, C MacQuaid, C Flynn; M Mac Suibhne, R Curran, M Mone.
Subs: A Nugent for Boyle (2), R Treanor for M Mac Suibhne (28), Mac Suibhne for Dooley (41), C Cassidy for Mone (24).
Referee: John Keane (Galway)
