Mayo pushed all the way by energetic Louth team

Mayo confirmed a preliminary All-Ireland quarterfinal at the very least with a 0-14 to 1-10 victory over Louth at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park this afternoon.

With a very disciplined game plan, Louth stayed with Mayo all through and nearly caught them at the end before time ran out on their comeback.

A point deep into injury time by Mayo's Fionn McDonagh, which put five points between the sides (0-14 to 0-9), appeared to have killed off the game but Conall McKeever got on the end of a fine move moments later to crash the ball past Mayo goalkeeper Colm Reape.

Conor Grimes followed that goal up with a point to leave the minimum between the sides, but the full-time whistle sounded on the kick-out to kill off Louth's fight back.

Mayo had started well, going three points to no score up inside five minutes thanks to Reape (free), Jack Carney and Ryan O'Donoghue, and those early stages suggested might go on to rack up a big score.

It wasn't to be, however, as Louth got to grips with the occasion on a sweltering day in Castlebar. Restricting Mayo with a packed defence, the Wee County had to be patient and try to pick off their opponents on the break.

Sam Mulroy opened the scoring for his team with a free on 11 minutes, and by half-time they were just three in arrears, Mulroy's second free complemented by scores from Conor Grimes and Ciaran Downey (mark).

Aidan O'Shea (free), Jordan Flynn, O'Donoghue (free) and Stephen Coen (mark) were on target for Mayo, who would have been happy enough with the three-point buffer (0-7 to 0-4) at the break.

A trademark classy effort by Matthew Ruane had Mayo four clear after two minutes of the second half but thereafter Louth grew in confidence. Downey brought it back to three before Leonard Gray made it two, and the latter's was a great chance for a goal – serving as a warning for what was to come later.

An Aidan O'Shea free had Mayo three clear again on 45 minutes, and there was still three between the sides as the game reached the hour mark (0-12 to 0-9).

When Mayo tacked on the next two points – both scored by substitutes (Paddy Durcan and Fionn McDonagh) – it appeared as though the home side had finally shaken off their dogged opponents.

But Mickey Harte's men showed great fighting spirit to get that late goal and point, and who knows how it might have gone if another few minutes had been played.

Mayo had done just enough, however, to secure the victory and take their place at the top of the Group 1 table heading into the final round game against Cork in two weeks' time.

Mayo: Colm Reape (0-1f); Jack Coyne, David McBrien, Sam Callinan; Padraig O'Hora, Conor Loftus, Stephen Coen (0-1m); Matthew Ruane (0-1), Donnacha McHugh; Jason Doherty, Jack Carney (0-1), Jordan Flynn (0-1); Aidan O'Shea (0-4f), James Carr, Ryan O'Donoghue (0-3, 2f).

Subs used: Paddy Durcan (0-1), Tommy Conroy, Enda Hession, Fionn McDonagh (0-1), Bob Tuohy.

Louth: James Califf; Bevan Duffy (0-1), Peter Lynch, Donal McKenny; Leonard Grey (0-1), Niall Sharkey (0-1), Anthony Williams; Tommy Durnin, Conor Early; Conall McKeever (1-0), Ciaran Downey (0-2), Conor Grimes (0-2); Conall McCaul, Sam Mulroy (0-3f), Ciaran Murphy.

Subs used: Craig Lennon, Liam Jackson, Ryan Burns, Paul Mathews.

Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan).

*See Tuesday's print edition for a full match report and reaction