Mayo's season ended by Donegal buzzer-beater

ALL-IRELAND SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP GROUP 1, ROUND 3

Donegal 0-19

Mayo 1-15

In Roscommon

MAYO have suffered heartbreak in the past but this beats them all. A point from Ciarán Moore after the buzzer ended Mayo's season in Hyde Park after the Green and Red had fought back to draw level just seconds earlier. A share of the spoils would have sent both teams into next weekend's preliminary quarter-finals but it wasn't to be.

Mayo had fought back tigerishly in the closing stages to seemingly secure advancement when Fergal Boland's kick split the sticks to level the game at the death at the end of a half when chances came and went at both ends.

The first half had ended with Mayo three behind. Stephen Rochford's men had given a good account of themselves for long periods, but Donegal were getting scores too easily when they ran down the middle and this didn't bode well for the rest of the afternoon.

Mayo had done well on their own kick-out and created chances in attack, but on too many occasions, men in green and red turned back when fleeting opportunities arose. That attacking caution left them with just six points to their name at the break.

Darren McHale was Mayo's first scorer, but Donegal began like a train and had three points on the board in as many minutes. The Ulster men were then dealt a blow when one of their best players, corner-back Peadar Mogan was sin-binned for tripping Ryan O'Donoghue.

That gave Mayo impetus and two points from O'Donoghue and another from McHale put them in front before scores and scoring chances dried up at both ends.

Defences were on top, but when Rory Brickenden was yellow-carded for a tackle on Cíarán Thompson, Michael Murphy converted the two-point free. Thompson soon doubled the lead, but a fine score from Donnacha McHugh on the left wing brought Mayo back into it.

Oisin Gallen and O'Donoghue swapped scores as half-time arrived but Donegal were about to make a drive for glory with two late points from Conor O'Donnell and Finnbarr Roarty to leave the Ulster champions three to the good at the interval.

Mayo closed the gap in the third quarter as points flowed over at each end but an injury picked up by Mayo full-back Donnacha McHugh would have a major bearing on the outcome. McHugh had been doing a fantastic marking job on Michael Murphy up to that point. The Donegal hit-man became much more prominent after McHugh's substitution and David McBrien, who was given the job of marking him, seemed caught between defensive and attacking duties.

The Ballaghaderreen clubman raced forward after 56 minutes to kick home a crucial goal and Mayo were two clear, 1-12 to 0-13. However, Donegal responded immediately with a two-pointer from Daire Ó Baoíl, a point from Murphy and another from Shane O'Donnell.

Jordan Flynn closed the gap to one with four minutes left before Colm Reape got back to save what looked like a certain goal from Paddy McBrearty before Murphy kicked the subsequent '45 to leave Donegal two up with three minutes to play.

Mayo refused to fade away and they swept down the pitch for O'Donoghue to point a free and Boland to kick the balancer. All that was required after that was a Mayo hand on the ball, but Donegal got the kick-out away and Moore raced up the right before putting the ball between the sticks to end Mayo's season.