Mayo's opening gambit of this year’s Nickey Rackard Cup proved a successful one as they hammered Armagh 2-25 to 2-07 at the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds.
Mayo were beaten by Roscommon in last year's final but despite relegation to Division 3 this spring, they were expected to account for an Orchard side who fell through the trap door to the bottom tier – and so it proved.
Ray Larkin’s side hit the first 11 points of the game – Cormac Phillips leading their scoring charge – but Armagh’s first two scores were Charlie McArdle goals to keep just in touch.
Phillips continued to score freely though as Mayo led 0-18 to 2-02 at the break.
Mayo continued to extend their lead in the second half with Corey Scahill grabbing their first goal in the 56th minute before Phillips fittingly rounded things off with their second a minute from time.
Tyrone also started on the front foot after a 4-10 to 0-15 win over Sligo at Garvaghey.
The Red Hand county made the perfect start with Shea Munroe hitting the net after just three minutes, and Turlough Mullin added to his growing green flag tally 25 minutes in.
The game was effectively over at the midway point as Munroe grabbed a second goal to help his side into a 3-06 to 0-04 lead.
Sligo, who were very reliant on Andrew Kilcullen for scores, improved after the break, but Niall McGarel added a fourth Tyrone goal in the 40th minute to kill off any thoughts of a second-half Sligo fightback.
Michael Little was sent off late on for Tyrone.
Louth came through a stiff Day 1 examination to get the better of Fermanagh 1-16 to 0-15 at Dowdallshill.
Louth started strongly and a penalty save from Conor Clancy kept them in front at the break, 0-08 to 0-07, although the loss of defender Michael O'Shea to a red card left them in trouble.
Louth’s Darren Geoghegan and Fermanagh’s Francie McBrien exchanged a series of scores as a tight second half unfolded, but the key moment came in the 55th minute when Louth’s Conor Murphy scored the only goal of the game.
That moved them 1-14 to 0-12 ahead and although Fermanagh scored three of the next four points, Louth had enough in the tank to earn the win.
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