It was a massive day in Croke Park as Donegal and Mayo squared off in a repeat of last year’s All-Ireland decider.
We had all the action.
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RESULT: Mayo 4-17 Donegal 1-10
We’re getting set for the last of this year’s All-Ireland senior football quarter-finals and it’s the big one as Mayo meet Donegal.
Here are the teams named to start this afternoon.
DONEGAL: Paul Durcan (Four Masters); Paddy McGrath (Ardara), Neil McGee (Gaoth Dobhair), Eamonn McGee (Gaoth Dobhair); Frank McGlynn (Glenfin), Karl Lacey (Four Masters), Anthony Thompson (Naomh Conaill); Neil Gallagher (Glenswilly), Rory Kavanagh (St Eunans); Ryan Bradley (Buncrana), Ryan McHugh (Kilcar), David Walsh (Naomh Bríd); Paddy McBrearty (Kilcar), Michael Murphy (Glenswilly), Colm McFadden (Naomh Mícheal).
MAYO: Rob Hennelly (Breaffy); Tom Cunniffe (Castlebar Mitchels), Ger Cafferkey (Ballina Stephenites), Keith Higgins (Ballyhaunis); Lee Keegan (Westport), Donal Vaughan (Ballinrobe), Colm Boyle (Davitts); Aidan O’Shea (Breaffy), Seamus O’Shea (Breaffy); Kevin McLoughlin (Knockmore), Richie Feeney (Castlebar Mitchels), Alan Dillon (Ballintubber); Cillian O’Connor (Ballintubber), Alan Freeman (Aghamore), Andy Moran (capt, Ballaghaderreen).
We’ve already seen Tyrone, Dublin and Kerry book their place at the semi-final stage this weekend. Who will join them?
Here’s the Donegal subs:
Michael Boyle, Daniel McLaughlin, Declan Walsh, Leo McLoone, Marty Boyle, Martin McElhinney, Ross Wherity, Marty O’Reilly, Odhran MacNiallais, Dermot Molloy, Gary McFadden.
And here’s the Mayo subs:
Brendan Walsh, Shane McHale, Michael Walsh, Kevin Keane, Barry Moran, Enda Varley, Chris Barrett, Cathal Carolan, Darren Coen, Jason Doherty, Jason Gibbons.
The referee this afternoon is Cavan’s Joe McQuillan. His linesmen are Laois man Maurice Deegan and Kerry’s Padraig O’Sullivan. Down’s Brendan Rice is the sideline official.
Two late Donegal changes. Mark McHugh comes into the attack for David Walsh while Declan Walsh replaces Karl Lacey in defence.
A good start is vital here, particularly for Mayo given what happened in last year’s All-Ireland final.
Mayo 0-1 Donegal 0-0: 1 mins – And Mayo get off the mark first with Cillian O’Connor hooking over a point off his left foot.
One late Mayo switch sees Chris Barrett in for Richie Feeney. Barrett is marking Colm McFadden.
Mayo 0-2 Donegal 0-0: 2 mins – Very strong start by Mayo. Alan Dillon flights over a fine point.
Mayo 1-2 Donegal 0-0: 5 mins – Very cool finish to the net by O’Connor with his left foot after Donegal were turned over in defence. Eamonn McGee was stripped of possession and Kevin McLoughlin played in O’Connor.
Mayo 1-3 Donegal 0-0: 6 mins – Mayo are flying now. Alan Freeman pops over a point.
Mayo 1-3 Donegal 0-1: 7 mins – Donegal get on the scoreboard. A long ball is punted in by Michael Murphy, it bounces on the ground and goes over the bar.
Mayo 1-3 Donegal 0-2: 8 mins – And another point for Donegal as Mark McHugh raises a white flag.
Mayo 1-3 Donegal 0-3: 12 mins – Foul on Donegal’s Rory Kavanagh leaves Michael Murphy with the simple task of converting a close-range free.
Mayo 2-3 Donegal 0-3: 13 mins – Donegal had possession initially from the Mayo kick out but they spilled the ball and Mayo swiftly attacked. Keith Higgins fisted it in to Vaughan who had stole inside and he got to the ball ahead of Paul Durcan, rounded him and drilled the ball to the empty net.
Donegal’s rearguard has now been carved open twice in the first 13 minutes of the game. Very unlike them. Mayo getting the stunning start on this occasion in contrast to last year’s All-Ireland final. They have a nice cushion on the scoreboard now.
Another foul by Mayo’s Aidan O’Shea concedes a free. He’s on a yellow card and needs to be careful.
Mayo 2-3 Donegal 0-4: 16 mins – Murphy sticks over the free for Donegal to cut the gap to five points.
Mayo 2-4 Donegal 0-4: 20 mins – Strong break forward by Aidan O’Shea as he offloads to Alan Dillon and the Ballintubber man has the time to pick off a fine point.
Mayo 2-5 Donegal 0-4: 25 mins – Mayo go seven points clear thanks for a score from Kevin McLoughlin.
Mayo 2-6 Donegal 0-4: 26 mins – That’s really good play by Mayo as they work the ball downfield and Andy Moran notches a super point.
Mayo 2-7 Donegal 0-4: 28 mins – Excellent pass in by Kevin McLoughlin and Alan Freeman gathers before pointing. Mayo are flying.
Nearly a third Mayo goal as the ball fell into the path of Cillian O’Connor but the Donegal defence were able to clear the ball off the line.
Mayo 2-8 Donegal 0-4: 32 mins – But O’Connor does grab a point as he converts the subsequent ’45.
Mayo 2-9 Donegal 0-4: 34 mins – This is turning into a rout. O’Connor fires over the free and Mayo are ahead by 11 points. They’ve also kicked six scores without reply.
Cathal Carolan breaks free and hits a ground shot that strikes the upright before Kevin McLoughlin skews the rebound wide.
Mayo 2-10 Donegal 0-4: 36 mins – But James Horan’s side are completely on top around the middle as they attack relentlessly and Colm Boyle has just fired over another point.
Half-Time: Mayo 2-10 Donegal 0-4: And that’s how it stands at the break with Mayo ahead by 12 points. Remarkable display by James Horan’s team so far.
Mayo 2-11 Donegal 0-4: 38 mins – Cracking point by Mayo’s Seamus O’Shea when he scythes through the Donegal defence.
Mayo 3-11 Donegal 0-4: 40 mins – That is surely game, set and match now even at this early stage. Keith Higgins punts the ball in, Cillian O’Connor breaks it down to Donal Vaughan who charges through, draws Paul Durcan and passes inside to O’Connor who finishes to the empty net.
And nearly a fourth goal but Lee Keegan’s shot is blocked by Paul Durcan. Donegal are 16 points down and they look a spent force.
Mayo 3-12 Donegal 0-4: 42 mins – Cillian O’Connor taps over a close range free for Mayo.
Mayo 4-12 Donegal 0-4: 44 mins – This is remarkable stuff. Mayo attack again with Andy Moran firing in an effort that is blocked by Paul Durcan and Cillian O’Connor hammers home the rebound. That’s a hat-trick for O’Connor.
Donegal’s day going from bad to worse. Eamonn McGee has just been sent off for an off the ball incident.
Mayo 4-14 Donegal 0-5: 54 mins – Enda Varley points for Mayo as Darren Coen replaces Cillian O’Connor in their attack.
Mayo 4-15 Donegal 0-5: 55 mins – Defender Chris Barrett gets in on the scoring act with a terrific point for Mayo.
Mayo 4-16 Donegal 0-6: 58 mins – But Mayo go back downfield and point through Kevin Keane.
Mayo 4-16 Donegal 0-8: 61 mins – Donegal keep battling on and they kick points through Michael Murphy and Karl Lacey.
Mayo 4-17 Donegal 0-8: 67 mins – Mayo point again through Lee Keegan and then deny Donegal a goal when Robert Hennelly saves bravely from Patrick McBrearty.
Lidl trek got their man across the line. But great ride by Bennett as he had to do it on his own.