Kobe McDonald explodes onto the scene as Mayo maul Monaghan

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Mayo 2-30

Monaghan 2-11

In Clones

THERE are dream debuts and then there's Kobe McDonald's first taste of senior inter-county football. This afternoon the Crossmolina teenager arrived onto the pitch in Clones in the 53rd minute and ended the game as top scorer with a goal and four points to his name. It was a stunning first outing in the Green and Red, but it was far from the only positive to emerge through the rain and wind for Andy Moran.

Mayo did a lot of good things in the famous Ulster venue. Their attack amassed a huge total and some of the passing movements were outstanding. Bob Tuohy had a fine game at midfield and Sam Callinan, Conor Loftus and Paddy Durcan did a lot of good things from their half-back positions. 

Robbie Hennelly's kick-outs were excellent at times and gave Mayo a fine attacking platform however Mayo conceded two soft goals and will look to improve on that aspect in the coming weeks.

Monaghan lined out without inspirational goalkeeper Rory Beggan and were missing a number of front-liners, but the home side were determined to get their first win of the season, and fielded a side full of drive and determination despite playing against the wind in the opening half. Mícheál Bannigan, Stephen O'Hanlon and their colleagues looked to create havoc every time the ball came their way, but Mayo's scramble defence was impressive on the whole, and goalkeeper Robbie Hennelly was solid.

A huge tally of 17 points sent Mayo to the dressingroom with a huge 0-17 to 0-6 lead, and despite the prospect of having to play into the breeze after the resumption, Andy Moran's men were in a great position. The energy and zest which was clearly absent the previous week in Donegal was back in abundance in Clones.

There was a bounce in Mayo's approach and they used the wind brilliantly, moving the ball forward without hesitation and kicking five superb two-pointers.

Fergal Boland raised two white flags from way outside the arc, the second one right on the buzzer at the end of the half. Darragh Beirne had landed the first two-pointer from a free while Jordan Flynn and Jack Carney hit one apiece. Flynn was excellent all day and enjoyed one of his best days in the Mayo jersey.

Bob Tuohy was climbing into the ether in the middle of the field and Hennelly's kick-outs were excellent.

Mayo began the second half on the front foot with Beirne, Aidan O'Shea, Durcan and Ryan O'Donoghue extending the lead, but Monaghan had introduced Jack McCarron at half time and he caused Mayo a lot of problems. He kicked two points in succession and rattled the net when the home side found too much room in the Mayo engine-room.

Mayo needed to respond and did so brilliantly. Jack Carney was much more prominent in the second period, Boland was popping up everywhere, Callinan was winning dirty ball and Loftus was the key which consistently unlocked the home defence. His precise pass sent O'Shea through for a goal after 50 minutes and with Mayo enjoying a 1-21 to 1-9 lead the hill was a steep one for the home boys.

Hennelly and Flynn moved the leaders 14 points clear before the newly-introduced McDonald made his mark. He kicked a point with his first touch, blazed home a goal with his second, landed a two-pointer with his third and kicked a point with his fourth. It was the debut of dreams and will be remembered for years to come.

At the other end, Robbie Hanratty was allowed rise all alone to flick home a goal but there was no hope of a Monaghan revival and Mayo cruised home to a huge win on a day a young man from Crossmolina had four shots at goal and ended up top scorer on his debut.