Monaghan’s relegation fears deepened after a heavy 2-30 to 2-11 defeat to Mayo in Clones.
With a gale-force wind and Mayo ruthless in the second and fourth quarters.
The Farney men were left chasing shadows for long stretches and look destined for the drop after a 19-point reversal in Clones.
Monaghan made the ideal start. Captain Micheál Bannigan fisted over the opener inside a minute and Andrew Woods added a well-worked free as the hosts led two-point to nil.
Mayo responded emphatically. A two-point free from Aidan O’Shea levelled matters before Jack Carney and Fergal Boland edged the visitors in front.
Ryan O’Donoghue converted a free and later blasted a penalty over the bar as Mayo began to assert control.
Bannigan, leading by example, kept Monaghan in touch with a trio of points. Whereas, Micheál McCarville weaved through the defence for a fine score.
However, with the wind at their backs, Mayo took over in the closing 10 minutes of the half.
Two-point efforts began to flow, stretching the margin rapidly. By the interval, the Westerners had surged into a commanding 0-17 to 0-6 lead. Monaghan trailing by 11 and facing an uphill battle.
Monaghan introduced Jack McCarron at the break and the substitute made an immediate impact.
Mayo opened the second-half scoring, but McCarron quickly replied with a point after Monaghan forced a turnover.
Mayo take their chances
Moments later, McCarron finished to the net after a goalmouth scramble, burying the ball into an open goal to reduce the deficit.
McCarron, added another point to bring his tally to 1-02 in a blistering spell, the Clones crowd sensed a flicker of hope.
Monaghan also registered their first two-pointer of the contest, but just as momentum threatened to swing, Mayo struck a decisive blow.
A Mayo goal midway through the half effectively extinguished any realistic chance of a comeback.
The visitors continued to tag on points with clinical efficiency, including another two-pointer to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
Robbie Hanratty did pull off a moment of ingenuity for Monaghan, palming a dropping ball up and over the goalkeeper in a “ghost goal” of sorts to raise a green flag. But it proved little more than consolation.
Mayo finished strongly, adding further points and a late two-pointer to round off an emphatic 2-30 to 2-11 victory.
