Monaghan open Nickey Rackard cup campaign with heavy defeat to Mayo

Monaghan opened their Nicky Rackard Cup campaign with a heavy 4-24 to 2-8 defeat to Mayo at MacHale Park in Castlebar.

Mayo were a point clear inside 16 minutes but 60 seconds later Monaghan’s Niall Garland found the net. Suddenly, the visitors moved two points clear.

Monaghan moved four points clear on 28 minutes when Niall Arthur added a second goal. Mayo rallied to make it a two-point game at the break; 2-5 to 0-9.

Mayo’s Sean Regan found the net three minutes into the second half. Six minutes later, Regan bagged his second goal as the hosts opened up a nine-point lead.

Sean Kenny registered Mayo’s third goal seven minutes from time. Liam Lavin added another one right at the end as Monaghan suffered a heavy defeat.