Murray hat-trick propels Leitrim to impressive win over Mayo

For the second year in a row, Leitrim recorded a Connacht Hurling League victory over Mayo but Monday's first round victory over last year's Christy Ring Cup finalists was a very different affair as a dominant Green & Gold, led by a hat-trick of goals from the deadly Joe Murray, bossed this game from start to finish.

Olcan Conway's side famously beat Mayo in last year's League Shield Final to pick up a rare bit of silverware but they were even more dominant here as three first half goals from Murray gave them a 3-12 to 1-9 victory. And while an off-kilter Mayo improved in the second half, Leitrim actually increased their lead despite making eight changes at halftime!

There is mitigation in that Mayo were without a lot of their Tooreen contingent for Monday's game but a Leitrim side shorn of the injured Stephen Goldrick and James McNabola and without Karl & Aaron McDermott, Diarmuid Kelleher and a few others, this was a thoroughly impressive victory for Leitrim regardless of the circumstances.

Leitrim hurling fans enjoy big Connacht League win over Mayo in Bekan - GALLERY

Leitrim hurlers started the county year off with a bang in the NUI Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome when they dished out a 4-23 to 1-18 beating to Mayo in the Connacht Hurling League on Monday. Observer photographer Willie Donnellan was there to capture some images of the diehard fans who made the journey to Bekan to cheer on the hurlers ... see who you can spot!

Leitrim now face the winners of the Sligo and Roscommon game in Wednesday's League semi-final with Conway's troops guaranteed at least a Shield Final appearance on Saturday in a very busy start to the New Year for the hurlers.

The impressive Gavin O'Hagan opened the scoring inside 15 seconds before James Gallagher replied for Mayo. Leitrim took early control of the game when O'Hagan hit his second before the Manorhamilton man delivered a long ball and Joe Murray broke a tackle and burst through to find the net after just three minutes.

It was tit for tat for the next few minutes with Michael Farrell and Adrian Philips matching points from Sean O'Riordan and Conor Beirne. Leitrim debutant Michael Dervan tapped over two frees which were matched by Philips but further scores from Brian Goldrick, a superb effort from an impossibly tight angle, and Dervan stretched the lead to six points.

Murray then pounced for his second goal on 16 minutes when he again showed a clean pair of heels to the defence. His first shot was stopped but he managed to get the second into the net. For good measure, he quickly added a point before Philips converted a '65.

Mayo looked as if they would mount a fightback when Michael Farrell gathered after a long ball beat the defence and he batted past Clement Cunniffe but Leitrim's response was deadly - Murray gathered a ball in the corner and with the keeper coming out to tackle him, he blew by him and finished to the net.

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Points from Sean Markham, Feeney and Murray were matched by Mayo scores from Farrell, Mark Philips and Frank Burke as Leitrim led 3-12 to 1-9 at the break. Leitrim made nine changes at the break but it made little difference to the flow of the game as sub Brendan Delaney finished to the net after four minutes.

Gavin O'Hagan tapped over two frees as Mayo slowly started to come back into the game as they scored eight points over the next 15 minutes with only a good Conor Hackett score in response to get the gap back down to eight points with ten minutes to go.

However, Leitrim would not be denied and steadied themselves with an O'Hagan point and a brilliant Michael O'Brien effort from the corner. Mayo's Cormac Philips converted a free with four minutes to go but an impressive Leitrim finished with six unanswered points from Martin Feeney (3), O'Hagan, Murray and Clement Cunniffee, playing outfield for the second half, to run out comprehensive winners.

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LEITRIM

Scorers: Joe Murray 3-3; Gavin O’Hagan 0-6, 3f; Martin Feeney 0-4; Michael Dervan 0-3, 3f; Brendan Delaney 1-0; Clement Cunniffe, Sean Markham, Conor Hackett, Sean O’Riorda, Brian Goldrick, Conor Beirne & Michael O’Brien 0-1 each

Team: Clement Cunniffe, Mark McHugh, Kevin Clerkin, Robbie Casey, Aaron McLoughlin, Martin Feeney, David McGovern, Sean Markham, Conor Hackett, Gavin O’Hagan, Michael Dervan, Sean O’Riordan, Brian Goldrick, Conor Beirne, Joe Murray. Subs: Brendan Delaney, Lorcan Donnellan, Ethan Clancy, Tadhg Branagan, Paul Lenehan, Dylan McDermott, Ralph McKeown, Michael O’Brien (all HT); Cian Mallon (60)

MAYO

Scorers: A Philips 0-7; M Farrell 1-2; J Heraty & C Philips (2f) 0-2 each; A Ketterick, A Gavin, J Gallagher, F Burke, M Philips 0-1 each

Team: B Lane, F Burke, D Hill, E Heraty, L Connor, C Murray, M Philips, J Lyons, K Gallagher, F Burke, M Farrell, C Philips, J Gallagher, A Philips, P Dozio. Subs: R Treacy & J Heraty (HT); A Gavin (49); M Gallagher (56); M Walsh (58); B Peoples (65); C Treacy, C Moloney & D Freyne (68)

Referee: Michael Connolly (Sligo)