Murt Connolly and Mayo got off to a winning start for 2011 with a comfortable win over Galway and Connaught intermediate club champions Pearses in Ballyheane on Saturday. An early point-scoring blitz by Mayo gave them a 0-12 to 0-4 half-time lead as the higher athleticism shone through for the county side. Five first-half points apiece from Kenny Feeney (Tooreen) and Keith Higgins (Ballyhaunis) afforded both a half-time shower, as Murt Connolly took the opportunity to get to know his panel of players.
Two second-half goals from Niall Murphy (Ballyhaunis) and Declan Gallagher (Westport) pushed Mayo further clear, while Pearses points from Galway senior Cyril Donnellan and Tomas Flannery showed flashes of brilliance from the north Galway side - who play Ballymartle (Cork) in the All-Ireland intermediate club semi-final next weekend.
For Mayo, Tooreen newcomers Greg Henry and Michael Morley performed admirably at the back in their first senior starts, while substitutes Austin Lyons, Liam McDermott and Paul O'Grady all showed well when being introduced.

 Mayo                   2-15
 Pearses (Galway) 0-12

Scorers for Mayo: K. Higgins 0-5 (2f), K. Feeney 0-5 (3f), N. Murphy 1-1, D. Gallagher 1-0, B. Hunt 0-2, E. Madigan and B. Higgins 0-1 each.
Mayo: D. O'Brien; P. Byrne, A. Connolly, G. Henry; C. Ryan, D. McConn, M. Morley; K. Higgins, B. Higgins; N. Murphy, E. Madigan, K. Feeney; B. Hunt, D. Gallagher , S. Hoban.
Subs used: L. McDermott for Feeney, V. Flannery for K. Higgins, A. Lyons for S. Connell, P. O'Grady for N. Murphy.
Referee: M. Carroll (Ross).