Leitrim delivered on their pre-tournament hype with a brilliant five point victory over Mayo in the Connacht U20 championship.
Paul Honeyman excelled scoring 1-10 as Leitrim took a huge leap in making the knockout stage of the Connacht championship.
Mayo opened the scoring through a Dara Byrne free on six minutes. Paul Honeyman responded from Leitrim with a converted free moments later.
Tom O'Flaherty put Mayo back infront from play on nine minutes. However, Ben Guigan responded with a brilliant goal. A long ball from the restart was worked to Guigan, who rattled the back of the net for the lead.
Mayo responded well and within a minute where level. O'Flaherty with his second from play and a Paul Hurley point saw the game level 1-1 to four points.
Honeyman's second free of the day on 15 minutes moved Leitrim a point in-front. Two minutes later Barry McNulty made it a two point game.
The hosts moved three clear on 20 minutes with Honeyman converting his third free of the day.
Dara Byrne landed Mayo's first score in 11 minutes before Honeyman scored twice from play two before half-time. Tom Lydon responded with two points before half-time.
Oisin Cronin made it a one point game a minute into additional time as Leitrim led 1-6 to eight points.
Mayo looked to get back into the game early in the second-half with a good point, however Leitrim were inspired.
Paul Honeyman’s goal either side of Barry McNulty points moved the hosts ahead. A Niall Hurley point on 36 minutes kept Mayo alive.
Jack Casey landed Leitirm’s third goal three minutes later, following a shot off the cross bar into the net. The hosts leading 3-12 to seven points.
Hurley pulled another point back for Mayo. However, the impressive Paul Honeyman sent over two frees either side of a Dara Byrne point.
Mayo added four further points to the scoreline in the final 14 minutes, but they could claw back the hosts who won out 3-12 to 16 points.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS@LeitrimGAA secure huge 3-12 to 0-16 win over @MayoGAA in Ballinamore to blow the EirGrid Connacht U20 Championship wide open!#ConnachtGAA pic.twitter.com/5ffoURs9FK
— Connacht GAA (@ConnachtGAA) April 3, 2024
Elsewhere Galway scored a 2-16 to 2-12 over Sligo.
