Monaghan bowed out of the All-Ireland SFC following a 1-13 to 0-12 defeat at the hands of Mayo in their qualifier meeting at MacHale Park in Castlebar.
The hosts led 1-7 to 0-7 at half-time, James Horan’s men narrowly shaded the second-half exchanges to run out four-point winners.
Monaghan settled quicker as Gary Mohan kicked two points inside the opening four minutes. Two minutes later, the visitors were temporarily down to 14 men when Conor McManus received a black card.
Monaghan’s momentum suddenly became disrupted and they failed to score for another 17 minutes. Mayo amassed 1-4 during that period; Cillian O’Connor scoring a penalty goal on 13 minutes.
Jack McCarron eventually ended the scoring drought on 21 minutes and Monaghan finished the half strongly to leave three points between the sides at half-time.
Rory Beggan produced a fantastic save to deny Mayo's Eoin McLaughlin five minutes into the second-half. Three minutes later, Micheal Bannigan scored his first point before Lee Keegan replied 13 minutes later and suddenly it was back to a three-point game.
Mayo subsequently found another gear as Darren McHale and Cillian O’Connor stretched their lead to five points with 60 seconds remaining.
However , the Farney men refused to back down and points from Conor Leonard and Shane Carey left three between the sides with as many minutes of stoppage time played.
Monaghan failed to reduce the margin any further and a Paddy Durcan point sealed victory for Mayo deep into stoppage time as Monaghan bowed out of the championship.
