DEADLY DURCAN

Paddy leaves it late to seal points

Mayo 0-13 Monaghan 0-12 Allianz NFL Division One DASHING wing-back Paddy Durcan was the match-winner for Mayo as his last-gasp point saw the Westerners pip 13-man Monaghan in Clones yesterday.

The Farney boys looked set to grab a draw after they landed three late points from Conor Mccarthy (two frees) and Niall Kearns.

However, Mayo defender Durcan had other ideas and he held his nerve deep in injury-time to settle the argument.

The loss of both Ryan Wylie (who was shown a straight red card) and Barry Kerr (two yellows) in the closing stages was a big blow to Monaghan’s chances when the game hung in the balance.

They also lost Dermot Malone to a black card in the final moments as tempers boiled over.

In front of a boisterous crowd, the sides were level on five occasions throughout an entertaining game that lacked little in terms of intensity or endeavour.

They were also deadlocked at the interval (0-7 apiece) with neither side letting the other get out of sight.

Monaghan set the early pace but Footballer of the Year Andy Moran got Mayo up and running before Evan Regan hit the equaliser.

Regan also tagged on three frees with Neil Douglas free) and former All-ireland under-21 winner Eoin O’donoghue also on target during a lively opening period.

At the other end, dynamic defender Karl O’connell fired over the first and last Monaghan points of the half with Conor Mccarthy, Jack Mccarron (3) and David Garland also among the home side’s scorers.

The second half unfolded along similar lines as Mayo struggled to convert plenty of hard-won possession into scores. As a result there was little to choose between the sides as both managers unloaded their benches.

Mayo captain Cillian O’connor (inset) and Conor Loftus were among those pitched in while Monaghan sent on Dermot Malone and

Colin Walshe.

Ex-young Footballer of the Year Diarmuid O’connor was also denied a goal by Monaghan shotstopper

Rory Beggan late on.