Tooreen prepare for showdown with St Gabriel's

The gallant men from Tooreen will make the journey to Hyde Park, Roscommon, on Sunday for the Connacht Intermediate hurling semi final showdown with St Gabriel’s of London.

The Mayo champions face another daunting challenge as the London side feature players from many of the heartland counties of hurling including Kilkenny, Clare, Cork, Galway, Waterford, Offaly and other hurling strongholds. In many ways, it is absolutely incredible to think that players from a small half-parish in Mayo can challenge a team that has the pick of so many players from around the country.

Tooreen and St Gabriel’s clashed in the semi final in Athleague two years ago and it was a rip-roaring contest with Tooreen eventually prevailing on a score line of 1-17 to 1-12. The passion of that match was something to behold.

St Gabriel’s had a huge 5-21 to 0-13 win over Robert Emmets in the recent London senior final. The start of the show was Kilkenny man, Danny Coyne, who scored 4-1. The Tooreen defence will need to keep a close eye on him on Sunday. Other prominent players on the St Gabriel’s team are Sean Glynn (Clare) and Conor O'Carroll (Kilkenny).

Two weeks ago, the Mayo lads turned in a terrific second half display against Roscommon champions, Four Roads. Trailing by six points at the interval, they really turned on the style on the restart and emerged victorious by ten points.

Among those who shone for Tooreen were Fergal and Shane Boland, Joe Boyle, Liam Lavin, Oisín Greally, David Kenny and Bobby Douglas. These and many of the stalwarts like Stephen Coyne, Kenny Feeney, Eoin Delaney, Sean Kenny and Brian Morley will need to be at their very best to contain what is certain to be a very strong challenge by the London champions.

The game has a 1pm throw-in in Hyde Park and another thriller appears to be on the cards.