SHC Semi Final Previews
September 23, 2008
TJ Tyrell Mayo Senior Hurling Championship, Semi-Finals Sun 28 Sep at 1:00
Westport v Ballyhaunis, Ref: Joe Conway in McHale Park, Castlebar
Linesmen: Paddy Carney & Kevin Beakey TJ Tyrell Mayo Senior Hurling Championship, Semi-Finals Sun 28 Sep at 4:00
Tooreen v James Stephens Ballina, Ref: Aodan MacSuibhne in McHale Park, Castlebar.
Linesmen: Gerry Kilbride & Kevin Beakey
The Mayo Senior Hurling Championship semi-finals eventually get the go ahead on Sunday next in McHale Park, in what is a repeat of last years semi-final pairings. First up is the meeting of Westport and Ballyhaunis, with the East Mayo charges entering this tie as hotly fancied favourites. Keith and Pierce Higgins, along with newcomer Niall Murphy are expected to show prominently for Ballyhaunis as they set out to regain the TJ Tyrell Cup after losing in the final to Ballina-James Stephens last year.
For Westport, the Broderick brothers Stephen and Paul will porvide the scoring threat while Eoghan Madigan and Declan Gallagher have also got the physique to upset the Ballyhaunis defence. The game throws in at 1pm with Joe Conway (Ballina) taking charge.
A tighter affair is expected in the second semi-final of the day with reigning champions Ballina-James Stephens taking on the challenge of former greats Tooreen.
The Moysiders did Mayo proud in their march to the Connacht club final in 2007, and their experience in that campaign will stand them in good stead in this years run-in. The Cafferkey brothers, Ger and Declan form the backbone of their formidable rearguard while up front Kevin Healy and John Tighe pose the most threat.
For Tooreen, they will be fighting hard to reach their first final since 2003, and with their youthful side, much depends on the accuracy of sharp-shooter Adrian Freeman for scores. The Tooreen management will also be sweating on the availability of Cathal Freeman, who lines out for the Mayo Minor footballers in their All-Ireland Minor final replay against Tyrone just twenty-four hours earlier. The game throws in at 4pm with former Dublin intercounty referee Aodan MacSuibhne officiating.
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