Mayo overcome Monaghan in Longford

MONAGHAN"S last chance of maintaining an interest in the final stages of any of the inter-county championships this year came to a disappointing end in Longford on Saturday last as the minors lost out to Mayo in their All Ireland quarter-final meeting. This was a game of two contrasting halves from Monaghan"s point of view but it was a contest that Monaghan could have won, although overall Mayo were probably the more consistent team. Improvement needed Monaghan"s year though at minor level in 2008 was a vast improvement on that of 2007 as they came within a whisker of going through to the all Ireland semi-final while last year they made a somewhat ignominious exit at the hands of Derry in the Ulster championship in a game where they could only manage one point over the entire 60 odd minutes. If Monaghan are going to improve on their performance this year and build on it they will have to look at having perhaps a stronger mental approach particularly in tight situations. They will also have to get into a winning frame of mind but of course that can only come with success at underage level particularly in schools and colleges competitions. Their performance this year though gives plenty of food for thought and no doubt it will be well analysed in the weeks and months to come. The county however can be proud of the work rate and the commitment shown by all of those involved from team manager Bernie Murray right down to everyone on the backroom team. ESB All-Ireland Minor Football Championship Quarter-final Beaten in extra-time It wasn"t until the second period of extra time that Mayo were able to put any real daylight between themselves and Monaghan in this low key and at times down right scrappy game that was played in blustery conditions in Pearse Park, Longford on Saturday last. Mayo led by 0-3 to 0-1 at the end of a first half that was riddled by mistakes by both sides with Monaghan registering seven wides and Mayo five. The standard of play improved in the second half with Monaghan ahead by a point after just six minutes with points by Kieran Hughes (2), one from a free and Aaron McCarey. By the end of the third quarter however Mayo were back in front with a brace from Aodan O"Shea and Aodan Walsh from a free. Monaghan equalised through Christopher McGuinness and went on go a point ahead again after twenty four minutes thanks to Kieran Hughes, free and Aaron McCarey but Mayo struck for the equaliser with literally seconds remaining to send the issue to extra time. Points by Aodan Walsh and Cathal Freeman saw Mayo ahead by two at the end of the first period of extra time and while Kieran Hughes reduced the deficit to one on the restart Mayo struck for three points inside two minutes to giver them a four points lead. Back came Monaghan for a point by Aaron McCarey from a free to reduce the margin to three and Mayo keeper Robert Hennelly kept his side in it with a brilliant save from Kieran Hughes as Monaghan piled on the pressure. Mayo survived and wrapped it up completely with a goal by Daniel O"Hara a minute into stoppage time. Monaghan - Emmet McArdle, Mattie Reilly, Christopher Farrell, Sam Dooney, Fintan Kelly, Pauric Boyle, Colin Walsh, Peter O"Hara, Kieran Duffy, Dermot Malone, Kieran Hughes 0-5 (3f), John Farrell, Christopher McGuinness 0-1, Aaron McCarey 0-3 (1f), Pete Dooney. Subs: Kevin Mooney for J Farrell, Shane Coyle for C McGuinness. In Extra time: Declan Farrell for C Walsh, Philip O"Callaghan for K Duffy, Padraig McGuirk for P Boyle. Referee: Joe Curley (Meath).