Monaghan returned to the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies' Senior Football final for the first time since 2002 after scoring a comfortable seven-point victory over Connacht champions Mayo at Páirc Tailteann on Saturday evening.
The Ulster champions produced a fantastic attacking performance, particularly in the second half, to see off the challenge of the Westerners in Navan, on a 2-16 to 1-12 scoreline.
Player of the match Niamh Kindlon, full forward Edel Byrne and corner forward Ciara McAnespie were in brilliant form throughout for Monaghan, who will fancy their chances of securing a first All-Ireland title since 1997 when they meet Cork or Tyrone on 28 September.
Monaghan led by just a single point at half time, 1-8 to 0-10, but completely outclassed Mayo in the second half with a devastating display as last year’s beaten finalists were restricted to just 1-2.
With some brilliant point-taking from both sides in the opening 17 minutes of the game, they were level on no fewer than five occasions before Byrne, who missed a good goal chance after just three minutes, found the net nine minutes before the interval.
After she was hauled down by Mayo full back Helena Lohan, Byrne dusted herself off and drilled the resultant penalty straight down the middle past Mayo goalkeeper Yvonne Byrne.
Monaghan could have been further ahead at the break but for the attacking brilliance of Mayo’s decorated forward Cora Staunton, who scored 0-8 of her 1-9 in the opening half.
The pick of Staunton’s first half points was a 14th-minute effort when she worked desperately hard to find space before pulling the trigger.
Mayo remained in contention for the opening stages of the second half, but Monaghan upped the tempo and after Catriona McConnell banged over a superb left-footed point midway through, the Farney girls never looked back.
Leading by six points, 0-12 to 1-15, with eight minutes left, Monaghan killed the game stone dead when wing-forward Therese McNally cut in from the left wing and coolly slotted past Yvonne Byrne for a superb solo goal.
As Monaghan supporters counted down the final seconds before the full-time hooter, Staunton stepped up and lashed a last-gasp penalty past Linda Martin for a consolation goal for Mayo.
