Monaghan 2-8
Mayo 0-10
By Peter Nolan
Monaghan took their second Senior B match without a defeat, topping Mayo 2-8 to 0-10 as the Westerners fell to 1-1 Sunday at Gaelic Park.
Monaghan were just about worth their 0-4 victory, although they never scaled the heights they reached in their opening victory versus Rockland.
Mayo were first to make an impression on the scoreboard, with Brendan Horan striking for a great point under heavy marking. Horan was a lively presence in the center of the Mayo attack all day, despite the attentions of Monaghan center back Bernard Traynor, but too often Horan had to go it alone.
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Monaghan lined out the ever-dangerous Mickey Slowey at corner forward, slotting Niall Coogan in at full forward. The move seemed designed to allow Slowey the freedom to roam while leaving the big, strong Coogan on the square. Coogan, however, picked up a knock after about 20 minutes and was replaced by Mark Dobbin, although he did make a late reemergence.
Mayo had a somewhat surprising scoring ace in the early going in midfielder John Madden. Madden is better known for his hurling exploits with Tipperary and New York, but he looked every bit the footballer as he fired over two stylish left-footed points for Mayo in the early going.
It was Monaghan, though, that got the breakthrough score of the first half when corner forward Declan McEntee pounced on a breaking ball and stuck it in the back of the Mayo net to put a goal between the sides, 1-2 to 0-2. Monaghan rode McEntee’s goal to a slender 1-3 to 0-5 halftime lead.
Monaghan were quickest off the mark in the second half and Martin Slowey would have had a goal but for John Browne’s heroics in the Mayo goal. Browne’s opposite number, Glenn Murphy, was also impressive in posting a clean sheet for Monaghan.
Monaghan edged further ahead on a point each from the Slowey brothers, while Liam McDonald countered for Mayo. McDonald didn’t get too many chances, but when he did, the Mayo corner forward knew where the posts were. Monaghan’s overall superiority was beginning to tell when Hughie O’Sullivan finished a good Monaghan move involving midfield partner Raurie O’Neill and Sean Convey to the Mayo twines.
Louie Breslin was strong in a Monaghan defense forcefully led by Martin Slowey, and sub Mark Dobbin was well worth his place once he got onto the pitch. Monaghan were solid and Mayo will be there or there about as the playoffs approach.
Man of the Match: Martin Slowey.
Monaghan: Glen Murphy, Garreth Duffy, Paul Rush, Louie Breslin, Martin Slowey (0-1), Bernard Traynor, Brian McKenna, Ruari O’Neill, Hughie O’Sullivan (1-0), Sean Convey, John Laydon, Darren Quinn, Declan McEntee (1-2), Niall Coogan, Mickey Slowey (0-4). Sub: Mark Dobbin (0-1).
Mayo: John Browne, Niall McMahon, Keith McMahon, Mark O’Connell, David Coleman, Lee Kelly, Eammon McEvoy, Ronan McGarrity, John Madden (0-2), Damien Corbet, Brendan Horan (0-5), Kevin Touhy, Liam Gallagher, Gary Kelly, Liam McDonald (0-3). Sub: Enda Brogan.