McDonald makes star cameo as Mayo maul Monaghan
Mayo returned to winning ways in the NFL in emphatic fashion with a comprehensive win over Monaghan in Clones.
An already very satisfying day for Andy Moran took on an extra dimension with the introduction of 18-year-old AFL recruit Kobe McDonald, who plundered 1-04 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 0-06 at half-time, courtesy of Boland’s double-double, with Darragh Beirne, Jack Carney and Jordan Flynn also accounting for orange flags.
Aidan O'Shea celebrates after scoring Mayo's opening goal
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 1-02 within ten 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 ten marksmen.
Monaghan: Kian Mulligan; Ryan Wylie, Ryan Mohan, Cameron Dowd; Dessie Ward, Ryan O’Toole, Daragh McElearney; Mícheál McCarville (0-01), Gary Mohan; Oisín McGorman, Aaron Carey, Thomas Hughes; Mícheál Bannigan (0-04, 1f), Andrew Woods (0-02, 1f), Stephen O’Hanlon (0-02, 1tp).
Subs: Jack McCarron (1-02, 1f) for McElearney (35); Robbie Hanratty (1-0) for Hughes (49); Karl Gallagher for G Mohan, Eddie Walsh for McGorman (both 56); Fionán Carolan for Woods (66).
Mayo: Rob Hennelly (0-01, ’45); Enda Hession, Donnacha McHugh, Jack Coyne; Sam Callinan (0-01), Conor Loftus, Paddy Durcan (0-02); Bob Tuohy, David McBrien; Jordan Flynn (0-05, 1tp), Ryan O’Donoghue (0-04, 1f, 1 pen), Jack Carney (0-02, 1tp); Darragh Beirne (0-5, 1tpf, 1f), Aidan O’Shea (1-01), Fergal Boland (0-05, 2tp).
Subs: Kobe McDonald (1-04, 1tp) for Beirne (52); Michael Plunkett for Loftus (54); Paul Towey for Carney, Seán Morahan for Durcan (both 58); Stephen Coen for Boland (62).
Referee: David Gough (Meath)
