Traditional Mayo rivals set for another clash of the ash

It is not a case of how many county senior hurling titles either Tooreen or Ballyhaunis win. It is, at this stage, a case how many they can win in a row, writes John Melvin.

Ballyhaunis bagged five on the bounce since they won their first title in 2002 but not before they lost their crown to Tooreen in 2003.

In 2004 they bounced back to put three in a row together, but, in 2007, Ballina stepped in, making the north Mayo club the only team other than Ballyhaunis or Tooreen to win a senior title in the past 21 years.

In 2008 normal service resumed, Ballyhaunis enjoying a golden era of five senior titles in a row (2008-2012) but Tooreen bounced back to put three of their own together (2017-19) and are now in the hunt for another three in a row, and seem destined to achieve their goal.

Tooreen have also raised the bar in terms of provincial and national success, reaching the All-Ireland intermediate final last season where they came within touching distance of a national title against Monaleen of Limerick.

The battles between the two east Mayo neighbours, which has now reached legendary status, attracting large crowds. It will not just the T.J. Tyrell Cup that will be on display but equally important, the pride of the parish which is deep in the hearts of two great hurling clans.

That will be evident in this year's on Saturday (October 21) at 4 p.m. when Ballyhaunis and Tooreen clash again in the Mayo senior hurling final.

For Tooreen club chairman, Pat Freyne, it has been something of a roller-coaster of a year since he took the reins last year.

The club's famous All-Ireland intermediate final meeting with Limerick and Munster champions Monalee was clearly the highlight of the season gone by, turning Tooreen into a sea of blue, with hurling fever gripping the whole parish and beyond.

Ironically, Pat gives a lot of credit to Ballyhaunis for helping them get to the that All-Ireland and playing a brand of hurling the club could be proud of.

“We just got by Ballyhaunis to win the Mayo title and that was one of the toughest games that helped us reach that memorable final,” he explained at the pre-hurling finals press night in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar.

They may not have won the final against Monaleen, losing narrowly in a game they might well have won, but shares in Tooreen hurling went through the roof as supporters saw just what a rural club from Mayo can achieve and how strong the unbreakable bonds of community spirit can be.

“There is a great pride in the parish and a great passion for hurling which makes us what we are, but Ballyhaunis too have great pride and have also represented their county well when they have made the breakthrough, and that is why playing them in a county final is a huge game for both of us,” he said.

Tooreen had to play second fiddle to Ballyhaunis from once they won their first title in 2002 but are now clawing back some of those lost riches, and have been the top dog for the last two years in particular.

“We had great years but then along came Ballyhaunis and we came up second best on a good few occasions, but we have regrouped again and that is very much down to the underage policy within the club. We have a lot of good hurlers coming through,” said Pat.

Yes, Tooreen have set the bar higher than ever by their exploits last year in Croke Park but Freyne knows the biggest hurdle in deciding whether their season comes to a premature end will be decided in this year’s county final, and when it comes to Ballyhaunis and Tooreen it is all about what happens on the day.

That view was supported by Ballyhaunis dual player Adrian Phillips, who feels home advantage for the final does not really make much, if any, difference.

“Home support is a help and we have great supporters but I wouldn’t read too much into it as Tooreen are just as familiar with our pitch as we are with theirs, so home advantage won’t count for much,” he said.

He also feels the teams know each other inside out having gone to school together and played hurling and football as youngsters growing up together, forging friendships that have made the rivalry even more intense when it comes to the clash of the ash.

“We are all good friends and have great respect for each other, but all that goes out the door when the game begins. But it is also handshakes all round afterwards, as it should be,” said Adrian, who is a teacher in Balla Secondary School.

Quite a few of the Ballyhaunis players are dual players and he sees that as a plus. “We have been playing championship football and hurling week in and week out, and that really does stand to our fitness levels,” he said.

They have already lost to Tooreen in the first round of the group stages of the championship, but that will count for nothing when they meet in the final.

“We beat St. Ciaran’s and Castlebar Mitchels and that got us into the final as we lost to Tooreen, but meeting in a final is a different story so we will be hoping to turn up with biggest permanence so far this season – and we will need it if we are to retrieve the T.J. Tyrell Cup,” said Adrian.

The addition of St. Ciaran’s as a senior club through amalgamating seven junior clubs has at least meant four teams went to post for the T.J. Tyrell Cup but, as expected, the two thoroughbreds will be contesting the final, and that pattern looks set to continue for the foreseeable future.

As any betting man knows, a two-horse race always gives the outsider a chance. While on current form it is hard to see Tooreen being beaten, Ballyhaunis will undoubtedly relish the opportunity for another shot at their neighbours.