NFL DIVISION ONE Monaghan 1-18 Mayo 2-13:DESPITE RECORDING a dramatic victory over Mayo, their first in the league since 1986, Monaghan are still relegated to Division Two due to the result of their head-to-head meeting with Armagh who also lost yesterday but whose one-point win over Monaghan earlier keeps them in the top flight.
Monaghan out-played Mayo for long periods and but for the concession of a couple of goals at vital stages and squandering two clear-cut chances this result could have been wrapped up sometime before the finish.
Mayo started the brighter but an opportunist goal by Tomás Freeman in the sixth minute put Monaghan in the lead and it was a lead they held until the final minutes of the first half when Mayo registered 1-2 without reply. Andy Moran was on hand to get the goal which sent his side in two points up at the break, Mayo 1-9, Monaghan 1-7.
Within two minutes of the restart Monaghan were back on level terms through Tomas Freeman and Paul Finlay (free), and the sides were level on three further occasions by the end of the third quarter.
A goal by Jason Doherty in the 52nd minute restored Mayo to the lead but three pointed frees from Paul Finlay, who finished top scorer with 11 points, brought Monaghan back to parity.
Conor McManus put Monaghan in front with nine minutes left with Paul Finlay edging them two in front a minute later. Mayo pulled back a point through substitute Aidan Kilcoyne but then Darren Hughes hit an inspirational score for Monaghan with another pointed Paul Finlay free putting them three in front and Mayo needing a goal.
While Monaghan supporters applauded their team at the finish, the applause subsided as news from other venues conspired to relegate Monaghan to Division Two.
MONAGHAN: M Keogh; K Duffy, D Hughes (0-1), C Walshe; C Galligan, D Mone, M McNally; N McAdam, O Lennon; D Clerkin, C McManus (0-3, frees), M Downey; C McGuinness, P Finlay (0-11, nine frees), T Freeman (1-3). Subs: J Turley for M Downey, S Gollogly for C McGuinness, D McArdle for M McNally, D Morgan for C Walshe, O Duffy for D Clerkin.
MAYO: D Clarke; C Hallinan, A Feeney, K Higgins; P Gardiner, G Cafferkey, J Burke (0-2); S O'Shea, T Parsons; A Campbell (0-4, two frees), A Moran (1-1), K McLoughlin (0-1); E Varley, A Freeman (0-1), J Doherty (1-3, two frees). Subs: R O'Connor for P Gardiner, R Rochford for C Hallinan, A Kilcoyne (0-1) for A Campbell, B Moran for S O'Shea.
Referee: E Kinsella(Laois).
