Andy Moran masterminded a historic victory for the Leitrim U20s on Wednesday night, as they recorded their first win over Mayo at U20/U21 level since 1998.
Leitrim entered Wednesday night's game knowing that victory would be a tall order - but also that it would set them up brilliantly for a push at reaching the knockout stages of the EirGrid Connacht championship.
Things got off to a brilliant start when Paul Honeyman set up Ben Guckian early on for Leitrim's first goal, and from there they never looked back.
Honeyman, a highly-rated up-and-coming full forward from Ballinamore Seán O'Heslins, contributed 0-10 of Leitrim's total of 3-12, as they romped to a five-point victory over hitherto undefeated Mayo.
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
Former Mayo star Andy Moran was ecstatic after his side's decisive victory. Moran has this year combined his role as Leitrim senior manager with the same role at U20 level, and his bold call to start senior stars Barry McNulty and Jack Foley just days after the Division Four league final against Laois certainly paid dividends.
The decision to start McNulty and Foley does mean that they will be prohibited from taking any part in Sunday's Connacht SFC opener against Sligo - an outgoing rule Moran blasted as "absolutely insane" in a post-match interview on Wednesday.
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Andy Moran's Leitrim U20s stun Mayo in Connacht championship
Andy Moran spoke to Stephen Grealis of Radio MidWest post-match in Ballinamore and was asked about his brave decision to start two of the members of his senior squad in the U20 clash with Mayo.
I caught up with @LeitrimGAA manager Andy Moran after his side's famous win over his native @MayoGAA in the Connacht championship this evening, he spoke about the gamble in playing two players tonight which makes them ineligible for the seniors vs Sligo this Sunday. pic.twitter.com/b71dgoX52U
— Stephen Grealis (@grealisStevie) April 3, 2024
Moran said that he was thrilled that the decision had ultimately been justified, and said that Foley and McNulty deserved a run-out with the U20s after a spring of dedication to the seniors.
Nonetheless, he blasted the seven-day rule which will prevent them from playing against Sligo:
Ah, if it didn't work it would have been the world's worst!
The reason we took both teams this year was to have control on the whole kind of structure.
We had Barry and Jack, in fairness to the U20s, we [the seniors] had them for the whole national league. They played every minute of every game. They only played one challenge match with the U20s right through. So they had sacrificed the whole year through.
We spoke to the senior captaincy at the weekend - they were in full agreement that the U20s had to take preference this week.
We have Barry and Jack this week, and we have them next Wednesday, but unfortunately we don't have them Sunday - which is a mad rule, absolutely insane rule.
The contentious seven-day rule states that a player cannot play a game at senior level within seven days of playing at U20 level - hence why McNulty and Foley were able to line out in last Saturday's league final, but will not be permitted to play on Sunday against Sligo.
Thankfully for Moran and Leitrim, a motion brought by Cork to the GAA's annual congress in February was successfully voted through, and will see the window reduced to 60 hours from 2025 onwards.
On a more positive note, Moran was thrilled for his U20 group of players, saying that a victory against a major county like Mayo is something that will stand to them as they progress to senior level:
The hard work, the plan, everything just came together.
No matter what happens at the end of this competition, no matter where we finish up, Leitrim now have a win against a Galway or a Mayo or a Roscommon or a Sligo - which is huge for these young men now going forward into their senior careers.
Leitrim sit below both Mayo and Galway in the table, but have played a game less than either county. Andy Moran's men face Sligo next Wednesday and Roscommon the following week, with a great chance now to reach the knockout stages of the EirGrid Connacht U20 championship.
1st place in the table will progress straight to the final, while 2nd and 3rd place will play-off in a semi-final for the second spot in the decider.
Regardless of how far they go, Leitrim enjoyed a special night in Ballinamore on Wednesday.
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