MAYO dumped last year’s league champions Derry into Division 2 while giving themselves a shout of a place in this year’s final with a five-point win at Celtic Park.
Midfielder Matthew Ruane kicked six points but it was goals from Frank Irwin and Jordan Flynn that were the key moments.
Kevin McStay’s men are actually still not absolutely sure of their top-flight status for 2025 but they are looking up ahead of their final game against Donegal.
All Derry can do this Sunday is try to bring opponents Armagh down with them.
Flynn’s finish, with the last kick of the first half, had Mayo 1-11 to 1-8 ahead at the interval and when Irwin crashed to the net in the 42nd minute, it sparked an unanswered 1-5 Mayo tally to open a ten-point lead.
Derry hit back with three two-point scores from talisman Conor Glass.
But Mayo were always able to control the game with Eoghan McLaughlin tagging on the insurance score.
McStay’s men are now unbeaten in four games and a point off the top three, with the manager saying: “Everyone’s keeping their chin up and head up and they’re driving it on.
“That’s what we want to see and, to a man, we’re very pleased with that effort.”
Over the game Mayo created six goal chances, four of which came and went before Flynn hit the net to put them in the driving seat.
McStay added: “Two out of six wouldn’t be a number I’d be screaming about but you have to make them.
“We have to produce the chances and there were some very good chances that we left behind.”
In a campaign of blows, winless Derry were hit with another when goalkeeper Odhrán Lynch limped off midway through the first half.
Patrick McGurk had fired to the net after just four minutes to give the hosts hope of rescuing their season but three Matthew Ruane points showed that Mayo meant business as well.
Shane McGuigan, McGurk and Niall Loughlin kept Derry on the up but Ruane had answers for everything.
The Oak Leafers were two points up as half-time approached but Mayo hit 1-2, including Ruane’s leveller and Flynn’s goal on the hooter from a turnover, for a 1-11 to 1-8 interval lead.
Glass and Niall Toner hit two points before Mayo’s crucial second goal changed the entire pattern of the game.
Aidan O’Shea, Ryan O’Donoghue and Enda Hession were all involved with Irwin blasting to the net for a 2-12 to 1-10 lead after 42 minutes.
Mayo loaded on scores from O’Donoghue, Conor Reid and Ruane in an answered 1-5 spell before Derry staged a Glass-led comeback that never got close enough.
With his thoughts now turning to Championship, Derry boss Paddy
Tally conceded: “I thought Mayo were very good. I thought they were able to open us up pretty easily, we have a lot of work to do.”
MAYO: C Reape; J Coyne; D McHugh, S Callinan; E Hession, D McBrien, F Kelly 0-1; S Coen, M Ruane 0-6; C Reid 0-1, J Carney, J Flynn 1-0; A O’Shea 0-1, F Irwin 1-1, R O’Donoghue 0-8, 2f, 1tpf. Subs: S Morahan for McHugh 52mins; F Boland for Reid 55; D Neary for Kelly 57; E McLaughlin 0-1 for McBrien 61; P Towey for O’Shea 69.
DERRY: O Lynch; D Baker, E McEvoy, M Bradley; C Doherty 0-1, P McGrogan 0-1, P McGurk 1-1; C Glass 0-8, 3tp, A Tohill; E Doherty, N Toner 0-1, D Higgins; N Loughlin 0-1, S McGuigan 0-4, 1f, P Cassidy. Subs: N McNicholl for Lynch 14mins; B McCarron for Higgins 52; C Devlin for Loughlin 52; C McMonagle for Tohill 57; M Doherty for McGrogan 60.
REFEREE: F Kelly (Longford).
