National Football League: Division One A: Brotherly love played a decisive role in Mayo securing their first brace of points in the league at James Stephens Park, Ballina, yesterday.
Leeds-based Trevor Mortimer rejoined the Mayo panel on the eve of the game for the first time since the All-Ireland final and, following his introduction to the action late in the first half, he set up his brother, Conor, for what proved to be the decisive goal 14 minutes into the second half. And when Alan Dillon crashed in a second Mayo goal five minutes later to open a six-point advantage the issue looked resolved.
However, Donegal battled back and with six minutes remaining were on level terms, but they failed to keep the momentum going.
In a highly entertaining, fast-flowing game watched by 4,000, scores were of a high quality and yellow cards were scarce. In fact, not one yellow card was flashed by Meath referee David McGoldrick but several players were on a final caution.
Although falling six points adrift, Donegal were in no mood to concede defeat and a fine goal by Christy Toye and points by Ruairí Kavanagh, Ryan Bradley and Brian Roper had the sides level into the final six minutes of normal time.
But two points from frees by Alan Dillon secured a home victory.
Mayo were by far the better team in the opening quarter, and with John Prunty, Conor Mortimer and Kieran McDonald combining well a lead of four points had been built by the 14th minute.
But Donegal were to dominate the remainder of the half and by the interval trailed by 0-7 to 0-6.
Assisted by a strong diagonal wind, Donegal had regained the lead 13 minutes into the second half with points by Ruairí Kavanagh and centre back Barry Monaghan.
But in the space of the next five minutes Mayo had turned a one-point deficit into a six-point advantage.
Mayo's second goal by Dillon was the end result of a fine run out of defence by Peadar Gardiner before Conor Mortimer knocked the ball down to Dillon who made no mistake from close range.
Donegal, however, recovered from that double whammy and Christie Toye's goal sandwiched between points by Kavanagh, Neil Gallagher and Brian Roper had left a stalemate by the 65th minute.
Mayo lived dangerously as Donegal came in search of the lead, but it was Mayo who secured victory with Dillon's two points from frees.
MAYO: D Clarke; K Higgins, P Kelly, L O'Malley; G Mullins (0-1), James Nallen, P Gardiner; B J Padden, J Kilcullen; J Gill (0-2), C McDonald, A Kilcoyne; C Mortimer (1-4), A Dillon (1-2), J Prunty (0-1). Subs: C Mortimer for Mullins, T Mortimer for Kilcoyne, A Moran for Prunty, A Costello for Kilcullen.
DONEGAL: M Boyle; E Reddin, R Sweeney, K Lacey; E McGee, B Monaghan (0-2), S Carr; N Gallagher, K Cassidy; C Toye (1-0), B Roper (0-2), R Bradley (0-2); R Kavanagh (0-4), C McFadden (0-1), S Cassidy. Subs: M Hegarty for Cassidy, C Dunne for Bradley.
Referee: David McGoldrick (Meath).