Mayo hold off late rally to relegate holders Derry from Division 1

March 16, 2025

Derry's Paul Cassidy with Mayo's Jack Coyne and Sam Callinan ©INPHO/Lorcan Doherty

Mayo struck goals either side of half-time to propel themselves to a 2-19 to 1-17 victory over Derry at Celtic Park this afternoon.

Jordan Flynn and Frank Irwin hit the visitors’ majors as they went on to record a five-point victory, securing their third win of the Allianz Football League campaign while relegating the Division 1 title holders in the process.

Derry couldn’t have asked for a better start to this game as Patrick McGurk had the ball in the back of the Westerners’ net after just five minutes.

The Connacht men did get level but Paddy Tally’s side got ahead again and points from Niall Loughlin and Conor Glass looked to have them leading at half-time, until Mayo squared things again and Flynn’s superb goal on the stroke of half-time sent them in with a 1-11 to 1-8 advantage.

Glass sailed over an early point in the restart for the Oak Leafers but their net would be rattled again, with Irwin providing the finish this time, and more points via Irwin, Matthew Ruane and Ryan O’Donoghue (free) would suddenly see the margin at double digits.

Back-to-back two-pointers from Glass kept Derry in with an outside chance ahead of late scores from O’Donoghue, who finished with 0-8 to his name, and Eoghan McLaughlin sealing the deal for Kevin McStay’s team.


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