Tooreen make it three Mayo titles on the bounce

Near neighbours Ballyhaunis are denied as holders make no mistake, clinching 33rd senior county crown 

THREE-PEAT: Tooreen's dominance in Mayo continues. File pic: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE

Mayo Senior Hurling Final: Tooreen 0-13 Ballyhaunis 0-8 

Holders Tooreen were crowned Mayo senior hurling champions for the third year in a row when they powered to victory over their near-neighbours in Ballyhaunis on Saturday afternoon.

Last year’s All-Ireland Intermediate championship finalists shot seven of the last eight points as they maintained their vice-like grip on the TJ Tyrell Cup and won their 33rd county senior title.

Ballyhaunis had no answer to Tooreen’s pace and precision in the second half as Shane Boland (3), Kenny Feeney (2), Seán Kenny (free) and Liam Lavin all raised white flags that helped them to pull away.

Tooreen had also led at the end of a cagey first half by 0-6 to 0-5.

The holders opened the scoring with a free from Shane Boland in the second minute but the homeside levelled through a Cormac Philips free six minutes later.

This set the tone for the rest of the half with neither side able to get on top for long.

Ballyhaunis did open up some daylight after Michael Farrell struck a couple of excellent points from play in quick succession.

But, despite missing a string of chances due to the swirling wind, Tooreen were back on level terms after 16 minutes as David Kenny and Liam Lavin hit the target from distance.

Ballyhaunis’ top scorer in the competition, Cormac Philips (free) and Tooreen’s Eoin Delaney then traded points to maintain the status quo before Philips drilled the lead score from open play in the 26th minute.

Tooreen lost key forward, Fergal Boland, to an injury but his team-mates finished the half with a flourish as Seán Kenny (free) tied the game up before Daniel Huane struck a magnificent point from an acute angle to leave the visitors ahead at the short whistle.

A free from Cormac Philips levelled the match for the fifth time just after the restart, but that was as good as it got for the homeside.

Tooreen shot scores from all angles in the last quarter as Ray Larkin’s side secured their sixth Mayo SHC title in seven seasons.

Tooreen: B Douglas; J Cassidy, M Morley, C Hession; J Boyle, S Coyne, D Kenny (0-1); S Kenny (0-2, 2fs), D Huane (0-1); L Lavin (0-2), F Boland, O Greally; S Boland (0-4, 2fs), K Feeney (0-2), E Delaney (0-1).

Subs used: S Regan for F Boland (inj); G Nolan for Coyne; B Morley for Greally (inj).

Ballyhaunis: D O’Brien; Jack Coyne, S Hoban, D Keadin; B Hunt, K Higgins, D Hill; K McDermott, E Collins; C Philips (0-5, 3fs, ‘65), A Philips (0-1), P Kiely; M Farrell (0-2), M Philips, Jason Coyne.

Subs used: E Ryan for Farrell.

Referee: E Shaughnessy (Castlebar Mitchels)