THE LAST PLACE in this year’s All-Ireland football semi-finals was up for grabs as Mayo and Donegal went head-to-head.
Who will meet Dublin in three weeks?
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Good evening and welcome to The42′s live coverage of the fourth and final All-Ireland football quarter-final.
With less than 10 minutes to play against Monaghan, Tyrone have a foot and a half in the semis — so who will join the Red Hand, Kerry and Dublin in the final four?
Throw-in between Mayo and Donegal is at 6pm.
TEAM NEWS: Here’s the Mayo team as named by Noel Connelly and Pat Holmes. It was named on Tuesday so you’re forgiven if you’ve forgotten it since then.
1. David Clarke – Ballina Stephenites
2. Ger Cafferkey – Ballina Stephenites
3. Donal Vaughan – Ballinrobe
4. Keith Higgins – Ballyhaunis (Capt.)
5. Lee Keegan – Westport
6. Tom Cunniffe – Castlebar Mitchels
7. Colm Boyle – Davitts
8. Seamus O’Shea – Breaffy
9. Tom Parsons – Charlestown Sarsfields
10. Diarmuid O’Connor – Ballintubber
11. Aidan O’Shea – Breaffy
12. Kevin McLoughlin – Knockmore
13. Andy Moran – Ballaghaderreen
14. Cillian O’Connor – Ballintubber
15. Jason Doherty – Burrishoole
TEAM NEWS: Here’s the Donegal team. We’ll keep you abreast of any late changes because, let’s be honest, this is Donegal. There will be changes.
1 Paul Durcan (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
2. Paddy McGrath (Ardara)
3. Neil McGee (Gweedore)
4. Eamon McGee (Gweedore)
5. Ryan McHugh (Kilcar)
6. Karl Lacey (Four Masters)
7. Frank McGlynn (Glenfin)
8. Neil Gallagher (Glenswilly)
9. Martin McElhinney (St Michael’s)
10. Martin O’Reilly (Sean Mac Cumhaill’s)
11. Odhrán MacNiallais (Gweedore)
12. Mark McHugh (Kilcar)
13. Paddy McBrearty (Kilcar)
14. Michael Murphy (Glenswilly)
15. Colm McFadden (St Michael’s)
There were nearly nine additional minutes played at the end of Tyrone v Monaghan, so it’s unlikely that we’ll be throwing in at 6pm as scheduled here. I’d give it a few more minutes.
CHANGE FOR MAYO: Barry Moran will start for the Connacht champions, with Andy Moran on the bench.
I’m only guessing but we could see them line out with a two-man inside forward line, Moran in midfield alongside Seamus O’Shea, and Tom Parsons dropping back to sweep. As I said, I’m only guessing.
It looks like Donegal will line out as named. Massive boost for them if Eamonn McGee and Karl Lacey are in fact fully fit.
Anois, Amhrán na bhFiann.
HA! Two changes for Donegal – Christy Toye and Hugh McFadden start; Martin McElhinney and Martin O’Reilly out.
THROW IN: We’re underway with Donegal attacking the Hill 16 end.
1 mins – The sides trade wides at either end as we get underway.
3 mins – Michael Murphy lines up a free from about 43 metres but drags it left and wide. Still no score.
4 mins – Frank McGlynn pushes on but Tom Parsons is in close attention and the Donegal man sends his shot wide.
5 mins – Neil McGee is lined up on Aidan O’Shea and the first time the ball comes near them, O’Shea knows all about it. Welcome to Croke Park, Aido.
6 mins — Donegal 0-1 Mayo 0-0: Colm McFadden angles his kick pass into the right corner and Michael Murphy gets the better of Ger Cafferkey on the wing, kicking the opening score.
7 mins — Donegal 0-1 Mayo 0-1: Lee Keegan bursts forward from the back and Kevin McLaughlin pops the ball over the Donegal defence and into his stride. Great opening score for Mayo.
8 mins — Mayo 0-2 Donegal 0-1: It’s Lee Keegan again! What a start.
10 mins — Donegal 0-2 Mayo 0-2: Michael Murphy kicks a beaut to level things up.
11 mins – Oh, this O’Shea/McGee battle is going to be a doozy. The Mayo man wins Round 2 and a free … and Mayo smash the ball into the net quickly. It’s called back by the ref though.
12 mins — Mayo 0-3 Donegal 0-2: Cillian O’Connor pops over the free at the second time of asking.
14 mins – This has been a fast and furious start. It’s tactical — but there’s no let-up from either side as you would expect.
15 mins – Chance for Michael Murphy to level matters again with another long free but it drops under the bar and into David Clarke’s hands.
18 mins — Mayo 0-4 Donegal 0-2: Tom Parsons wins the ball in midfield and Jason Doherty pounces on the breaking ball, plays a one-two, and scores. Fine work.
In terms of how Mayo have lined out, at the moment Barry Moran looks to be sweeping and Tom Parsons in midfield as named.
19 mins — Mayo 0-4 Donegal 0-3: Donegal switch the play from the Hogan Stand to Cusack Stand side, and Christy Toye has time to steady himself before booming over a point from all of 40 metres.
That all started with Aidan O’Shea getting crowded out in the Donegal half, losing possession, and Donegal countering at pace.
21 mins — Mayo 0-4 Donegal 0-4: Michael Murphy stands over a 45 and points it as you’d expect. That’s three for him so far and Donegal are level again.
22 mins — Mayo 0-5 Donegal 0-4: Cillian O’Connor darts out away from the Donegal goal, giving him a bit of a breather from Eamonn McGee, and he uses the space to point.
23 mins — Mayo 0-6 Donegal 0-4: Quick thinking by Aidan O’Shea. He plays a quick free in to Jason Doherty. Durcan reacts quickly enough to close the space and remove the goal threat, but Doherty still manages to point.
26 mins – Michael Murphy has the ball in his hands for a free that’s practically back at the 65 yard line. He goes for it… and it’s just short, tailing away for another Donegal wide at the very end.
27 mins – Cillian O’Connor v Eamonn McGee is developing into a right little doozy as well. O’Connor tries to go around him on the right but the Mayo forward runs his way into heavy yellow traffic and loses possession.
28 mins – Aidan O’Shea is responsible for a lot of the good things Mayo are doing in Donegal territory but not on this occasion. He tries an ambitious kick pass to Cillian O’Connor but Eamonn McGee gets a hand in to break up possession.
30 mins — Mayo 0-7 Donegal 0-4: It’s nearly seven minutes since our last score but this one by Kevin McLaughlin was worth waiting for. He shrugs off the attention of two or three Donegal defenders and curls over a point off his left.
32 mins — Mayo 0-7 Donegal 0-5: Mayo give Donegal a handy free in a kickable area and Murphy obliges. That was a good period for Mayo but Donegal are still within touching distance.
MAYO SUB: Tom Cunniffe is replaced by Chris Barrett. You’d have to presume that Cunniffe picked up a knock there.
Cunniffe is having ice applied to his hamstring. So yes, he’s injured.
36 mins — Mayo 0-7 Donegal 0-6: Donegal break at pace through Ryan McHugh and Colm McFadden who have Karl Lacey haring off their shoulder. David Clarke saves from Lacey but he touches the ball on the ground.
Murphy points the free.
GOAL FOR MAYO! Mayo 1-7 Donegal 0-6 (O’Shea, 35+2′)
WOW – what a time for the game’s opening goal. And after a towering first half, yes, it’s Aidan O’Shea. He gets his body in front of Neil McGee and when the Donegal defender loses his balance, O’Shea only has one thing on his mind. He swivels and drills his shot into the bottom corner.
It looked like it was going to be a one-point game at the break but instead, Mayo lead by four.
HALF TIME: Mayo 1-7 Donegal 0-6
Here’s that Aidan O’Shea goal. Some strength to drive past Mark McHugh as well.
Back in five.
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Some crowd in Croker – no arguing there:
SECOND HALF: We’re underway.
Change for Donegal at the break with Martin McElhinney on for Christy Toye.
Looks like a tactical change for Donegal as well – Eamonn McGee has switched onto Aidan O’Shea, it seems.
In fact, that’s an enforced change as Neil McGee is helped gingerly from the field, with Anthony Thompson coming on in his place.
That’s a massive loss for Donegal.
GOAL FOR MAYO! Mayo 2-7 Donegal 0-6 (Keegan, 39′)
My word, Lee Keegan – did you mean this?! My instinct says no!
Cillian O’Connor fetches and gives it to Keegan who picks a great line to burst through the Donegal line.
It looks like he tries to sticks it over the bar … but actually lofts it over Paul Durcan’s head and into the far corner.
Shades of Kevin McManamon against Kerry two years ago (except McManamon actually meant his *ducks*)
Here, judge for yourselves:
43 mins — Mayo 2-8 Donegal 0-6: Cillian O’Connor points a free. Mayo have 2-1 since Donegal’s last score.
45 mins — Mayo 2-8 Donegal 0-7: Murphy knocks over a free but Donegal will need more than that.
46 mins — Mayo 2-9 Donegal 0-7: Karl Lacey, what are you at?! The 2012 Footballer of the Year plays a hand pass straight across the face of goal and Kevin McLaughlin fists it over the bar.
Schoolboy stuff from Lacey.
47 mins — Mayo 2-10 Donegal 0-7: I think the technical term for this Keith Higgins point is a “boomer.”
48 mins — Mayo 2-10 Donegal 0-8: Michael Murphy points a response but Mayo still lead by double scores.
48 mins – Martin McElhinney has a sight on goal but shoots wide. This ain’t going well for Donegal.
52 mins – HawkEye is fired up to rule on a Cillian O’Connor free. He missed it but Donegal still need a miracle.
54 mins — BLACK CARD! Donal Vaughan is shown black and sent to the stands. Patrick Durcan is on to replace him.
55 mins – A lot of the zip is gone out of this game. Donegal not showing any real threat and Mayo are comfortable.
56 mins – Paddy McGrath is beaten by the bounce but Cillian O’Connor is beaten by his studs, slipping when he was in a great position to add another Mayo score.
58 mins – Mayo have pulled a lot of men back behind the ball, happy that they’ve racked up a substantial lead.
Tom Parsons has a chance to stretch that lead to nine but he drops it short into Durcan’s hands.
61 mins – It’s over 12 minutes since we’ve had a score. I can’t really remember what one looks like.
62 mins — Mayo 2-10 Donegal 0-9: Leo McLoone must be reading on the sly. Again, he has half a sight on goal but blasts over the bar.
Seven-point game, seven(ish) minutes to play.
64 mins — Mayo 2-11 Donegal 0-9: Bualadh bos for Andy Moran who turns left, then right, and points beautifully from the Cusack Stand side.
65 mins — Mayo 2-11 Donegal 0-10: Anthony Thompson tries to drop the ball in on the edge of the square but overcooks it and it drops over the bar.
67 mins — Mayo 2-11 Donegal 0-11: Michael Murphy kicks a free for his eighth point of the afternoon.
They couldn’t, could they?
Lee Keegan is named Man of the Match for his 1-2 contribution, at least 0-2 of which was intentional!
68 mins — Mayo 2-12 Donegal 0-11: Alan Freeman points to settle Mayo nerves, if there were any.
69 mins — Mayo 2-13 Donegal 0-11: Donegal have pushed everyone up so the Mayo forwards have free reign near Paul Durcan’s goal. Jason Doherty keeps it simple and pops over another point.
http://inpho.ie/media/stCHaH4T9W_WAg2kdSZMxg..a?ts=7qCGhC9nGzVOVm5lK57Sfg..a
70 mins – Andy Moran has Diarmuid O’Connor screaming for the ball close to goal but decides to go it alone and his shot is deflected behind for a 45.
We’re into the first of three additional minutes.
Cillian O’Connor misses the 45.
FULL TIME: Mayo 2-13 Donegal 0-11
Kevin Keane is shown a straight red following a scuffle with Michael Murphy… but it’s all over!
Mayo are through to the All-Ireland semi-finals. They’ll face Dublin three weeks from tomorrow on 30 August.
That’s it from us for now but we’ll have lots more reaction and analysis across the evening.
Mayo for Sam? They’re a step closer tonight anyway.
