League final for Mayo as they see off Kildare challenge

Mayo have booked a place in next weekend's Allianz National Football League Division 1 final thanks to a 2-20 to 0-18 victory over Kildare at Avant Money Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada in Carrick-on-Shannon, Leitrim, this afternoon.

Any sort of win today would have been sufficient for Mayo to set up a showdown with Kerry in the final but instead of a scrappy, hard-fought victory, the 'home' side turned on the style to put Kildare to the sword, especially in the second half.

Goals in either half from Ryan O'Donoghue and Jordan Flynn illuminated a very impressive display by the Green and Red, who ran up a huge score and saw a number of men getting on the scoreboard.

Mayo were just a point ahead at half-time, 1-10 to 0-12, as Kildare gave as good as they got. However, the Lilywhites' challenge faded in the second half as they struggled to cope with the power and pace of Mayo.

Flynn, Padraig O'Hora and Michael Plunkett all got in the scoring act to supplement the threat provided by O'Donoghue, Jason Doherty and Jack Carney up front.

For Kildare, Paddy Woodgate, Ben McCormack, Paul Cribbin, Jimmy Hyland and Kevin Flynn were always a threat but their impact lessened the longer the game went on in the face of a superb Mayo display.

The major downside for a Mayo was an injury to Brendan Harrison, who started the game in place of Padraig O'Hora but only completed five minutes before being having to go off, O'Hora taking his place. Diarmuid O'Connor also departed the action before the first half had been completed, being replaced by Kevin McLoughlin.

*See Tuesday's print edition for a full report on the game