Mayo hurling club all set for big showdown in Roscommon

Tooreen have been far and away Mayo’s most successful provincial club over the last decade and they head over to Hyde Park, Roscommon, on Saturday where they hope to retain their Connacht crown once again. They take on Galway champions, Tynagh Abbey-Duniry, in what promises to be another gripping encounter.

Hyde Park and Athleague have been a happy hunting ground for Tooreen over the years and the familiar journey through Ballymoe is second nature to players and supporters at this stage. Tooreen followers have so many good memories of these venues that no place feels more like home than these Roscommon grounds.

The Mayo champions face a strong and accomplished Galway side on Saturday. Tynagh Abbey-Duniry had four points to spare over Kinvara in a keenly contested Galway Intermediate Final two weeks ago. In 2023, the Tynagh side lost narrowly to Ballinderreen by 3-18 to 2-18 so these lads have been performing at top level for some time.

Former Galway hurler, Shane Maloney, is among their ranks while Michael Power and the Brehony brothers are others who have featured strongly with them during the Galway campaign this season.

The team is managed by Mattie Kenny who hails from Tynagh and who was manager of the Dublin senior hurling team for a few seasons. He is joined on this occasion by another former Galway hurler, Liam Hodgins, who also served alongside Derek Walsh with the Mayo hurling management in recent years.

Tooreen, who were fortunate to survive a herculean challenge by Ballyhaunis in the Mayo final, defeated Four Roads (Roscommon) and St Gabriel’s (London) en-route to the final. They will once again be looking to Fergal and Shane Boland, Stephen Coyne, David and Sean Kenny, Joe Boyle, Oisín Greally, Bobby Douglas, Liam Lavin, Eoin Delaney, Kenny Feeney, Michael Morley, Danny Huane and various other regulars to see them over the line on this occasion.

Tooreen manager, Ray Larkin, is once again joined by Dom Greally, Brian Delaney and Stephen Lenehan while Ronan Fahy from Castlegar has also been brought on board as coach.

Larkin says enthusiasm is strong among the panel as they set their sights on winning their sixth provincial crown. “We need a fully focussed performance from start to finish. We are facing a team of good hurlers from Galway and our lads are aware of the big challenge ahead. We are still without the services of Sean Regan, Gary Nolan and Conal Hession who are out through injuries.

“This will be our third time in a month playing in Hyde Park and it is a great venue. Our lads are buzzing and ready to go and I feel if we can bring our top game to Roscommon that we can retain the title again,” the manager concluded.

Fixture:

Connacht Intermediate Club Hurling Championship: Final

Tooreen v Tynagh Abbey-Duniry

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24: Dr Hyde Park, Roscommon, at 1.30pm.