DONEGAL’S dream became a nightmare as goals either side of half-time by Aidan O”Shea and Lee Keegan fired the Mayo into a fifth successive All-Ireland semi-final.
DONEGAL 0-11 MAYO 2-13
By the end of this quarter-final, Mayo were eight points in front and, despite not being at their best, the Connacht champions were comfortable against a weary, jaded and off-colour Donegal.
The goals couldn’t have came at better times for Mayo, nor at worse times for Donegal.
The script was going to play, with Donegal just a point in arrears, when O’Shea (pictured above) hit the goal that burst the dam in first half stoppage time.
It came right on the blow of David Gough’s half-time whistle – and it was a blow from which they never recovered.
Donegal had dealt with midfielder-cum-full-forward O’Shea well up until then but that moment, two minutes into added time, when the big Breaffy man fetched a ball from his brother Seamus, held off Neil McGee and drilled emphatically beyond Paul Durcan was a dagger through Donegal’s heart and soul.
It was the first time that O’Shea had got a sniff, but he made no mistake when the chance arose.
Five points from Michael Murphy had kept Donegal within touching distance and Rory Gallagher would have been prety content when a close-range free from the Tir Chonaill captain brought them to within a point.
Mayo had threatened to pull clear on a couple of occasions, but Donegal kept a lid on the pot with a solid defence.
Even when the Connacht champions moved 0-7 to 0-4 in front with scores from Cillian O’Connor, Jason Doherty and Kevin McLoughlin, Murphy’s brace took Donegal back into it.
Keegan hit two early points for Mayo and O’Connor tapped over a free after O’Shea drew a free off McGee.
Donegal stayed in touch with Christy Toye pointing when Ryan McHugh’s interception set them off on the counter and Murphy leveled it up before Mayo hit a mini purple patch.
Donegal came back to within touching distance, but O’Shea’s major energised Mayo – on the field and off it.
Just four minutes into the second half, Mayo bagged a second goal when wing-back Keegan saw his effort for a point dip over Durcan’s head and into the Hill 17 net.
All of a sudden Donegal were down by seven and were without their full-back, Neil McGee, who had to be withdrawn, unable to continue because of a hamstring injury sustained early in the game.
There was no way back for Donegal, who looked spent in many quarters after a gruelling summer that saw them play five matches before Saturday with Mayo coming to the capital with springs in steps having had to navigate only Galway and Sligo for a passage into August.
A week on from their 3-12 to 0-11 qualifier win over Galway, Donegal showed two late alterations with the inclusions of Toye and Hugh McFadden only confirmed as the teams were ready to stand to attention for Amhrán na bhFiann.
Donegal were tired and jaded for much of the contest meaning that Mayo – who had Kevin Keane sent off seconds after his introduction in the final minute – could afford not to hit top gear.
While Murphy took his tally to eight points, Donegal never threatened Rob Hennelly – who came on for the injured David Clarke at half-time – in the Mayo goal.
With Andy Moran, Alan Freeman and Jason Doherty on target, Mayo moved into the last four.
Their dreams of finally bridging the gap to 1951 remain alive. Donegal dreams lay in tatters around Jones Road and with a few of the more experienced lieutenants ready to consider their futures, the way back could be a long one.
DONEGAL: Paul Durcan; Paddy McGrath, Neil McGee, Eamon McGee; Mark McHugh, Karl Lacey, Frank McGlynn; Neil Gallagher, Hugh McFadden; Christy Toye (0-1), Odhrán Mac Niallais, Ryan McHugh; Patrick McBrearty, Michael Murphy (0-8, 4f, 1 ’45), Colm McFadden. Subs: Martin McElhinney for Toye (h-t), Anthony Thompson (0-1) for N.McGee (38), Leo McLoone (0-1) for Mac Niallais (39).
MAYO: David Clarke; Donal Vaughan, Ger Cafferkey, Keith Higgins (0-1); Lee Keegan (1-2), Tom Cunniffe, Colm Boyle; Seamus O’Shea, Tom Parsons; Kevin McLoughlin (0-2), Barry Moran, Jason Doherty (0-3); Diarmuid O’Connor, Aidan O’Shea (1-0), Cillian O’Connor (0-3, 2f). Subs: Chris Barrett for Cunniffe (34), Rob Hennelly for Clarke (h-t), Patrick Durcan for Vaughan (black card, 54), Andy Moran (0-1) for B Moran (60), Alan Freeman (0-1) for S O’Shea (65), Kevin Keane for Cafferkey (70).
REFEREE: David Gough (Meath).
Tags: