Mayo U-20s upset by thrilling three-goal display from classy Leitrim

Connacht U-20 Football Championship Round 3

Leitrim 3-12 Mayo 0-16

In Ballinamore

LEITRIM have caused a major upset in the Connacht U-20 Championship by toppling Mayo with a classy display on home soil.

It was a night of mixed emotions for ex-Mayo captain Andy Moran, who saw his team grew more dominant as his beloved Mayo withered into haphazard disarray.

Star forward Paul Honeyman shot 0-10 for Leitrim, who eventually got the better of Mayo in every area of the field.

The teams were level twice in the first quarter Leitrim midfielder Ben Guckian got a goal that blew the first hole in Mayo’s leaky hull.

The Mayo full-back struggled against Leitrim attack while their forwards, though dangerous, were bereft of accuracy and devoid of luck when goal chances came. 

Trailing by 1-6 to 0-8 at half-time, Mayo levelled the game in the 33^rd minute.

However, the hosts quickly fired back when Darren Cox punched a ball across the goal and off the crossbar, where centre-forward Paul Moran pounced immediately.

Jack Casey got a goal soon after to make it 3-8 to 0-10 before Mayo narrowed it back to four points.

The best efforts of Dara Hurley (3 points), Tom O’Flaherty (4 points, 2 frees) and Darragh Beirne (6 points, 6 frees) up front weren’t enough as Leitrim won battles all over the field.

The black-carding of Darren Cox in the 51^st minute failed to unnerve Leitrim, who held Mayo back and kept a clean sheet thanks to some decent saves from Brian Cull.

Mayo threw the kitchen sink to narrow the gap, but there was too little time and too much to be scored for Peadar Gardiner’s men to salvage a win on a memorable night for Leitrim football.

Mayo now three points in their round robin group after one win, one draw and won loss.