Despite Conall McKeever hitting the back of the Mayo net in stoppage time, Louth fell just short of a sensational comeback, falling to a one point defeat in Castlebar.

Mayo had a five point margin with minutes left of stoppage time, Louth almost pulled off a sensational comeback as they scored 1-1 to almost force a draw, but time was on Mayo’s side.

Aidan O’Shea was a colossal force for Mayo, kicking 0-4 he kept his cool on a balmy day out West, Louth have it all to do now against Kerry to not finish in bottom spot.

Mayo were off the ground from the off, Aidan O’Shea had won a free in centre field, but the referee must have heard something afterwards as the free was brought up to the Louth 45m line, Colm Reape journeyed up the field and slotted over the score for an early lead.

It was all Mayo in terms of score creation, their backline was doing well to mute Louth in attack, Jack Carney tapped over a score a minute later, before Ryan O’Donogohue fielded a long ball inside, he raced toward the goal and opted to fist over the bar for a three point lead five minutes in.

11 minutes was how long Louth had to wait for a score, the first time the Mayo defence showed a lack of discipline, Sam Mulory the ever reliable free taker stepped up and had Louth on the board, two points behind.

Almost a goal arrived for the hosts at the end of the opening quarter, not the person normally associated with goal scoring, David McBrien had ventured up the field from full-back, he was left inside, had James Carr for support but went for the goal, James Califf in the Louth goal made himself big to make the save, in the aftermath Carr shouldered Califf into the goalpost, the Mayo man shown a yellow card.

Some more words said after Mayo won another free gave Aidan O’Shea his first score as he had a closer look at the posts, but Mulory replied with a monstrous 50 yard free to leave two points between the teams. 

Space opened up for Jordan Flynn to kick Mayo’s fifth point of the afternoon, O’Donoghue followed up with a tap over free as Jack Coyne was brought down making a run toward the Louth goal area, Conor Grimes had kicked Louth’s first point of the day just after Flynn’s effort, Mayo leading 0-5 to 0-3 after 24 minutes.

Ciaran Downey called an excellent mark and his strike from a good distance out saw the white flag raised and Louth were back down to two behind, Stephen Coen however would also call a mark just after the half hour mark, an excellent score by the half-back as he restored the three point margin, which they too to the dressing room.

Both struggled with scores at times, some poor wides from a Louth perspective, while Mayo kicked three as Reape had another free on the 45 just before half time was sounded and that missed the mark.

Mayo kicked started the second half through Matthew Ruane, but Louth outscored them in the early exchanges, Downey and Leonard Grey both pointing, Grey almost had a goal but Reape saved well to get his fingertips to put the ball over for just a point.

Carney missed a mark from close range which looked like a score he would be expected to make, but O’Shea was on hand to slot over a free to keep them steady, Louth minutes later cut them open and Conor Earley raced for goal and fisted over, Louth were not giving up.

Another goal chance looked on the cards for Mayo as Carr and O’Shea both were in behind the Louth rearguard, Carr hand passed looking for O’Shea in the square but Califf came off his line to fist away the danger.

Despite Niall Sharkey racing up for a score, Mayo hit three points before the hour mark to put a four point lead between the sides, Mulroy would cut that back to three however soon after with another free keeping Louth in the tie.

O’Shea kicked his fourth point just before the end of normal time, again coming from a free, sent high into the summer sunshine but again Mayo had breathing room, four points between them 0-13 to 0-9, but Louth still were there and with five minutes of added time called they were not over the line yet.

Added time brought plenty of drama, Louth had a 45 to put three between them but Mulory sent it wide, Mayo then opted for a slow tempo possession game to wind the lock down, going from their own half, Padraig O’Hora passed in for Fionn McDonagh to score.

Louth trailed by five points with minutes left, Conall McKeever fired into the Mayo net, Reape beaten for a goal, something we do not see often, that  left again two between them and Louth smelled blood, Grimes made it a grandstand finish as he pointed in the sixth minute of stoppage time, but time was up and Louth were dejected as Mayo won by the narrowest margin.