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Mayo minors way too good for Monaghan

Tommy Conroy, Mayo, in action against Shane Treanor Expand

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Tommy Conroy, Mayo, in action against Shane Treanor

Tommy Conroy, Mayo, in action against Shane Treanor

Tommy Conroy, Mayo, in action against Shane Treanor

Mayo will get the chance to claim their first All-Ireland minor title since 1985 after a facile 3-19 to 1-12 victory over Monaghan at Croke Park.

The Ulster champions were always second best with Mayo much more clinical on the day and will play the winners of Roscommon and Tyrone on the fourth Sunday in September.

Mayo got the better of an entertaining opening half with their dangerous half-back line complementing a lively attacking division.

A goal from Conor McCarthy was almost immediately cancelled out by Conor Loftus who helped Mayo to a four-point half-time lead.

The Westerners copperfastened their advantage in the second half with goals from Michael Plunkett and Tommy Conroy and were ultimately very deserving winners.

A fine solo effort from Mayo's flying wingback Michael Hall opened the scoring for the Connacht champions and his half-back partner Steven Coen was next on the scoresheet.

Monaghan almost responded with a goal in the fourth minute but David McAllister's shot was brilliantly stopped by Mark Mulligan. Mulligan's opposite number scored the resulting 45.

A McAllister free made it two poinys apiece before Tommy Conroy was set-up by Cian Hanley to restore Mayo's lead.

Liam Irwin, Steven Coen, Michael Plunkett and Conroy added Mayo points and they led by 0-7 to 0-2 after 18 minutes.

David McAllister got Monaghan's first point in 12 minutes and added another free soon afterwards to cut the deficit to three.

The sides were level after 22 minutes when a long ball broke fortuitously for Conor McCarthy who clinically found the net.

The lead lasted all of 30 seconds as Mayo immediately attacked from the kick-out and Conor Loftus drop-kicked a goal past a number of Monaghan defenders.

Mayo's Cian Hanley shipped a big hit and had to be replaced after breaking a collarbone by Padraig Prendergast who won a free with his first involvement that Liam Irwin duly dispatched.

Conor Loftus and Conor McCarthy swapped points in injury time before Fergal McMahon and Dara Doherty did likewise and Mayo led by 1-10 to 1-6 at the interval.

Dara Doherty fired a brace after the restart before Conor McCarthy responded with his trusty left foot.

Mayo got a massive slice of luck in the 34th minute as Michael Plunkett seized on a mistake by the Monaghan keeper Conor Forde to score goal.

Liam Irwin and Ryan McAnespie swapped points to make it 2-13 to 1-8 after 38 minutes.

Mark Mulligan produced a fantasic save from Dessie Ward's shot to preserve Mayo's advantage and Dara Doherty punished the miss with a poinbt for Mayo.

Padraig Prendergast and Michael Plunkett raised further white flags with Conor McCarthy responding for Monaghan who trailed by 10 points with 14 remaining.

Monaghan could have had a goal in the 49th minute but Conor McCarthy blazed his shot over.

Points from Michael Hall and Padraig Prendergast came before Tommy Conroy finished emphatically to the net in the 54th minute.

Adam Traynor and Fergal McMahon pulled scores back before captain Kevin Loughran rattled the crossbar for the losers.

Sub Conor Byrne added the final score for Mayo as they ran out 13-point winners.

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