Mayo Senior Hurling Final 2017

Ballyhaunis v Tooreen

Sat 21st October 2017 @4.00pm

Venue: Adrian Freeman Park Tooreen

Referee: Charlie Collins (Lacken)

 

Old rivals Tooreen and Ballyhaunis meet in the Mayo GAA Senior Hurling final this Saturday, in what will be the neighbouring clubs sixth successive final meeting. Ballyhaunis are going for their 13th title - remarkable considering their first came in 2002. Tooreen are going for their 28th title - their first in 1966. Tooreens last title came in 2013 while Ballyhaunis will be going for a four-in-a-row.

 

In a change to previous years, Tooreen qualified directly for this years finale thanks to earlier round wins over Westport and Ballyhaunis, and a draw away to Castlebar. Ballyhaunis on the other hand had to go through the semi-final route this season - disposing of Castlebar Mitchels by 1-13 to 0-9 a month ago.

 

Both teams know a lot about each other due to their close proximity and their exploits together as part of the Mayo Senior Hurling team, who ply their trade in the Tier2 Christy Ring hurling cup. In total seventeen hurlers between the two clubs make up the Mayo Senior Hurling Panel.

 

After their exploits with the Mayo Senior footballers this summer, both Keith Higgins (Ballyhaunis) and Fergal Boland (Tooreen) are expected to lock horns from their respective corners. Clare intercounty senior footballer Eoin Collins will also be in the Red & Black colours, while Stephen Coyne has returned from Australia to help his native Tooreen in their title bid.

 

Last years meeting between the sides showed how closely matched the sides are - a draw in the final was followed by a narrow three point win for Ballyhaunis a week later. The winners of this years contest will again go forward to the Connacht GAA Intermediate Hurling semi-final, where Roscommon champions Padraig Pearses are in waiting after their historic win over Four Roads recently.

 

Pic1:

Damien Kedian and Eoin Collins (Ballyhaunis) square up to David Kenny and Cathal Freeman (Tooreen) as referee Charlie Collins starts the 2015 final in Tooreen Hurling Grounds. Pic: MemoriesThruALens

 

Tweet

Most Read Stories