Heartbreak at the hooter for Mayo as Donegal sink Championship dream

Mayo 1:15

Donegal 0:19

MAYO fell to an agonising 1 point loss to Ulster Champions Donegal this afternoon in the King and Moffat Dr. Hyde Park.

A late Fergal Bolan equaliser looked like it would have sealed Mayo’s progression into the next round but Ciaran Moore responded at the other end to ensure victory for Donegal.

Mayo failed to perform up to standard in the first half, 3 points from Ryan O’Donoghue, and scores from Darren McHale and Donnacha McHugh was all Mayo could muster in the opening 35, ultimately going into the break down by 3 points.

The second period began brighter for Mayo, a Jack Carney fisted point looked to be a sign that Mayo were ready to put up a fight, but Michael Murphy, Conor O’Donnell and Ciarán Thompson were accurate for Donegal throughout.

The turning point came on the 55th minute as Ballaghaderreen man David McBrien rose the green flag for Mayo, the green and red had momentum to go and get something out of the clash but Donegal sub Daire O’Baoil and Michael Murphy had other ideas, reducing the short-lived Mayo lead almost instantly.

Through scores from Jordan Flynn and a Ryan O’Donoghue free, Mayo were within one of levelling, in the final minute up stepped substitute Fergal Boland who looked to have sealed progression for the Connaught side.

But a sucker punch at the hooter as Ciaran Moore went up the other end to point for Donegal, given them a last gasp victory.

Full match report and analysis inside Tuesday's edition of the Connaught Telegraph