Mayo 1-15
Donegal 2-6

by Frank Craig 

Mayo advanced to the quarter-finals of TG4 All-Ireland title race while Donegal’s championship status will go on the line in the promotion/relegation play-offs. 

Diane O’Hora’s side went away to Pairc Taoibhoige, Glenfin and came away with a deserved six-point victory. 

James Daly’s team trailed 0-12 to 1-2 on 50 minutes but a Donegal rally down the stretch reeled that gap into just three points.

Lisa Cafferky stemmed the tide for the Connacht girls but a Susanne White goal late on again threatened to salvage matters for Donegal. 

Mayo though, lifted things again and a Cafferky goal at the other end finally decided matters. 

The visitors, playing with the aid of the stiff breeze inside the opening half, departed with a four-point lead at 0-8 to 1-1 at the break. 

Aoife Staunton top-scored for Mayo by then with three points, while Maria Reilly, Sinead Cafferky and Lisa Cafferky also helped accumulate that midpoint haul. 

Donegal’s only white flag was supplied by White but a 25th-minute goal from Abbie McGranaghan made sure they remained in contention at the changeover. 

Mayo bossed the third quarter before home replacements Mia Bennett and Ulitah Boyle helped Donegal reduce arrears to just a goal with ten to go. 

And with matters exploding into life there, it was Mayo that had the final say as they progressed to the quarter-finals. 

Scorers - Mayo: L Cafferky 1-4, 4f; A Staunton 0-4, 1f; S Cafferky 0-3; M Reilly 0-2; A Geraghty and T Needham 0-1 each. 

Donegal: S White 1-3, 1f; A McGranaghan 1-0; E Gallagher, M Bennett and U Boyle 0-1 each. 

MAYO: L. Brennan; L. Wallace, S. El Massry, M. Delaney; F. Collins, L. Hanley, H. Reape; A. Geraghty, T. Needham; M. Reilly, S. Walsh, A. Staunton; L. Cafferky, C. Keane, S. Cafferky. Subs: A Kennedy for Collins (48), Kayla Doherty for C Keane (58).

DONEGAL: C. Friel; N. Carr, N. Boyle, S. McFeely; T. Hegarty, F. McManamon, S. McFadden; R. McColgan, E. McGinley; B. McLaughlin, K. Dowds, A. McDermott; E. Gallagher, S. White, A. McGranaghan. Subs: U Boyle for McFadden (ht), R Rodgers for McFeely (40), Mia Bennett for E Gallagher, C Gillespie for McDermott (both 47), Ava Walsh for B McLaughlin (58). 

Referee: M. Farrelly (Cavan).

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