Wins for Mayo and Limerick

Mayo senior footballers and Limerick senior hurlers got their 2014 campaigns off to winning starts in the FBD League and Waterford Crystal Cup respectively tonight.

At Elverys MacHale Park in Castlebar, Mayo were pushed hard before registering a 0-12 to 1-6 win over NUI Galway.

Darren Coen top-scored with five points for a relatively inexperienced Mayo side, who had just keeper Rob Hennelly from their All-Ireland final starting line-up.

Five players, including forwards Adam Gallagher, Diarmuid O'Connor and Tom King were handed their first starts.

James Horan's charges lead by 0-6 to 0-4 at half-time, with six different scorers in the opening half.

Scores from Coen and Hennelly pushed Mayo four points clear, but NUIG responded with a goal from Galway's Sean Moran five minutes from the end to cut the gap to the minimum.

Despite having Sean Kelly black carded, Mayo finished strongly with scores from Coen and Mickey Conroy ensuring a three-point win.

Both teams are back in action for the second round this Sunday.

It was much easier for Limerick hurlers, who got their first game under new manager TJ Ryan off to a comfortable start following a 10-17 to 0-9 win over IT Tralee in Rathkeale.

IT Tralee led by 0-2 to 0-1 early on, but once the hosts registered their first goal soon after, the reigning Munster champions weren't to trail this game.

Limerick stormed to a 3-4 to 0-3 lead after 15 minutes thanks to goals from Graeme Mulcahy, John Fitzgibbon and Donal O'Grady.

The Shannonsiders failed to ease up before the break, as further goals from Mulcahy and Paul Browne saw them hold a 5-10 to 0-6 interval lead.

Limerick continued to be ruthless on the restart, and added 4-2 to their tally inside 10 minutes after the break.

Limerick added their tenth goal before the end of the third quarter, as they stormed to a 38-point win.

Clare will be Limerick's quarter-final opponents, with the Banner County at home on January 19th.