Mayo put themselves into the winners’ section of Tuesday morning’s All-Ireland senior football championship second round draw with a hard earned 1-24 to 2-20 victory over Monaghan in Clones this afternoon.

Teenage sensation Kobe McDonald, who is due to sit his Leaving Cert next week, struck 1-4 in the first-half for the visitors, including a palmed goal in the 29th minute which put them into a commanding 1-11 to 0-5 lead.

Darragh Beirne and McDonald added points to the Westerners’ tally, with Jack McCarron and Andrew Woods (two-pointer) pulling back scores at the other end prior to long range efforts by Beirne (free) and Ryan O’Donoghue closing the half at 1-17 to 0-9 in Mayo’s favour.

Jordan Flynn’s point increased the lead to a dozen for Andy Moran’s men in the opening minute of the restart, but the double-digit margin between the sides would soon disappear as Dessie Ward’s two-pointer was followed up by a Bobby McCaul point.

McCaul soared to fetch a terrific Stephen Mooney pass and roll the ball to the net for a sorely needed Farney goal in the 55th minute, with the goal-scorer unfortunately having to be stretchered off with injury minutes later.

WATCH THE FULL-TIME HIGHLIGHTS⬇️🎥

Another day of dramatics in St. Tiernach's Park, Clones, where Mayo are victorious👑🟢🔴

Andy Moran's side managed to maintain their lead as Monaghan got as far just 1 point behind them in the end💥😱🏅

Full-time Score:@monaghangaa 2-20… pic.twitter.com/DYryXknl23

— The GAA (@officialgaa) May 31, 2026

The lengthy break in play also saw Mayo introducing Aidan O’Shea for his 100th championship appearance, making the Breaffy clubman the first outfield inter-county footballer to claim that feat.

Conor McCarthy’s point dwindled the Mayo lead down to six, with points from Beirne and Diarmuid O’Connor at the other end looking to settle the visitors' nerves, but the ball would be in their net again via Mooney’s rocket shot to make it 1-23 to 2-18 with just under five minutes to go.

A Mayo free was sent over by O’Donoghue to leave a goal in it in the dying seconds, meaning that Max Maguire’s two-pointer left Monaghan’s brave comeback attempt one short in the end.

The result now sees Moran's side in the hat for the Round 2A section of Tuesday’s All-Ireland senior football championship draw, with Monaghan joining Dublin in Round 2B after the capital’s men surprise defeat to Louth this afternoon.

Here’s how the 16 teams in the Sam Maguire Cup race enter into the draw the day after tomorrow:

Round 2A: Donegal, Cork, Galway, Tyrone, Armagh, Westmeath, Louth and Mayo.

Round 2B: Kerry, Meath, Kildare, Roscommon, Cavan, Derry, Dublin and Monaghan.

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