Mayo 0-22
Meath 2-13
A BARNSTORMING SECOND-HALF performance saw Mayo come from behind to book their place in next weekend’s All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals in typically dramatic fashion in Castlebar.
Andy Moran’s men had to pull out all the stops to recover from a poor first-half display to reel last year’s All-Ireland semi-finalists back in before powering on to a third victory of a rollercoaster campaign.
Wind-assisted Meath played some sparkling football in the opening half and were 10 points up after goals from Ciarán Caulfield and Seán Coffey put them in the driving seat.
But the Westerners came roaring back after the restart and shot 0-15 (including three two-pointers) to book their place in the last eight.
Meath’s cause wasn’t helped by a red card for substitute Ronan Jones after 52 minutes after he was involved in an off-the-ball incident with Mayo’s Jack Coyne.
The game was in the melting point when Paul Faloon dismissed Jones, with the sides deadlocked.
But Andy Moran’s men made the most of their extra man, shooting four points in the closing stages as Jack Carney landed a two-pointer to put them ahead for the first time in the game before Ryan O’Donoghue and Kobe McDonald also hit the target to seal the win.
All Meath could manage in response was a sole pointed effort from Ciarán Caulfield, who was earlier denied his second goal by a brilliant save from rookie Mayo goalkeeper Jack Livingstone.
It had been a very different story in the opening half as Mayo elected to play against the strong breeze after winning the toss, and Meath hit the ground running.
Goals from the impressive Ciarán Caulfield and the dynamic Seán Coffey in the 15th and 24th minutes respectively helped the Royals to lead by 2-7 to 0-3.
By that stage the likes of Jordan Morris, James Conlon, Bryan Menton and Cian McBride had all picked off scores and the visitors were in control all over the field.
Mayo finally found some form in the closing stages with man of the match, Enda Hession, driving them forward against the breeze and kicking two superb points in quick succession to keep in touch.
Further scores before the break from Jordan Flynn and Kobe McDonald helped to close the gap to seven points at the interval, with Meath leading by 2-8 to 0-7 when the hooter sounded.
Mayo had lost their last three championship games in a row at this venue, but this victory means that they will line out in the last eight of the All-Ireland series for the first time in three years.
Meath, who went all the way to the All-Ireland semi-finals last season, exit the championship this time around having lost three of their four matches, last week’s win away to Derry being the outlier result.
The draw for the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals will be made on Monday morning.
Scorers for Mayo: Jordan Flynn 0-5 (0-4 2tp), Kobe McDonald 0-4, Ryan O’Donoghue 0-4 (1f), Tommy Conroy 0-3, Jack Carney 0-2 (0-1 tp), Enda Hession 0-2, Bob Tuohy 0-1, Cian McHale 0-1.
Scorers for Meath: Ciaran Caulfield 1-2, Seán Coffey 1-1, James Conlon 0-2, Jordan Morris 0-2, Matthew Costello 0-1, Jack O’Connor 0-1, Cian McBride 0-1, Seán Brennan 0-1 (‘45), Bryan Menton 0-1.
MAYO:
1 Jack Livingstone (Breaffy)
2 Jack Coyne (Ballyhaunis) 3 Donnacha McHugh (Castlebar Mitchels) 4 Eoin McGreal (Garrymore)
5 Sam Callinan (Ballina Stephenites) 6 David McBrien (Ballaghaderreen) 7 Enda Hession (Garrymore)
8 Jordan Flynn (Crossmolina) 9 Jack Carney (Kilmeena)
10 Paddy Durcan (Castlebar Mitchels) 11 Conor Loftus (Crossmolina) 19 Bob Tuohy (Castlebar Mitchels)
13 Darragh Beirne (Claremorris) 14 Ryan O’Donoghue (Belmullet) 15 Kobe McDonald (Crossmolina)
Subs: Diarmuid O’Connor for Durcan (16, inj); Tommy Conroy for Beirne (30, inj); Cian McHale for Loftus (40); Matthew Ruane for Tuohy (57); Stephen Coen for Flynn (65).
MEATH:
1 Seán Brennan (Dunderry)
2 Seamus Lavin (Dunboyne) 3 Seán Rafferty (Na Fianna) 18 Killian Smyth (Castletown)
5 Donal Keogan (Rathkenny) 6 Bryan Menton (Donaghmore/Ashbourne) 7 Seán Coffey (Ballinabrackey)
8 Cian McBride (Downings) 21 Jack Flynn (Ratoath)
20 Jack O’Connor (Curraha) 11 Matthew Costello (Dunshaughlin) 12 Ciarán Caulfield (Trim)
13 Jordan Morris (Kingscourt Stars) 14 James Conlon (St Colmcille’s) 15 Eoghan Frayne (Summerhill)
Subs: Brian O’Halloran for for Smyth (43); Charlie O’Connor for McBride (50); Ronan Jones for Flynn (50); Cathal Hickey for Costello (53); James McEntee for Frayne (57).
Ref: Paul Faloon (Down)
Written by Mike Finnerty and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.