Tooreen defeat neighbours Ballyhaunis in tense Mayo hurling final

Tooreen have defeated neighbours Ballyhaunis by 0-13 to 0-8 in a tense Mayo senior hurling county final.

Corner forward Shane Boland scored their first and last points of the game as the blue and white dominated the game, which was played in Ballyhaunis.

Cormac Phillips was impressive for this hosts and scored early, his team enjoying a 0-2 to 0-1 after the opening 10 minutes.

However, that would be the final time they held the lead as Tooreen scorers David Kenny, Liam Lavin and Eoin Delaney helped them into a narrow 0-6 to 0-5 lead at half-time.

The second half began brightly for Ballyhaunis. A Michael Farrell goal chance was snuffed out but a Cormac Phillips free brought them level.

Tooreen rose to the occasion once more, though, and grew into the game, a Sean Kenny free putting them ahead again while an excellent Eoin Delaney effort flew over the bar and a sweet score from Kenny Feeney put them three ahead.

An Adrian Phillips effort and a Patrick Kiely free finished Ballyhaunis’s scoring for the day while Tooreen closed out the game with poins from Shane Boland, Liam Lavin and Kenny Feeney to run out 0-13 to 0-8 victors.

Tooreen now advance to Connaught intermediate series to defend their provincial crown.

*See Tuesday's print edition for a full report on the game