Tooreen and Ballyhaunis produce epic Mayo hurling final

Hurling was the winner in Tooreen as the home side and neighbours Ballyhaunis produced an epic Mayo senior final that required extra time before the hosts emerged victorious by 1-21 to 0-22.

A strong first-half display by underdogs Ballyhaunis saw them lead by two at the break – 0-11 to 1-6 – but Tooreen's experience and guile saw them come thundering back in the second half.

In fact, were it not for profligacy (they shot 10 second-half wides to Ballyhaunis' six), the defending champions would have been winners in normal time, but the challengers deserved another crack at it in extra time as they never gave up, Cormac Phillips producing a masterclass in free-taking to punish any and all indiscretions by the Tooreen defence.

The scoreboard read 0-17 to 1-14 at the end of normal time, and it was still level at half-time in extra time (0-20 to 1-17), leaving the spectre of penalties looming large.

But Fergal Boland really came to prominence in the final period of the game, signalling his intent by scoring straight after the throw-in at the start of the second half of extra time and adding two more points for good measure to go with one by Sean Kenny, Ballyhaunis landing just two at the other end through Phillips (free) and Keith Higgins.

Ballyhaunis had a late chance to win it when Higgins lobbed a free into the danger area but while the sliotar broke for a team-mate to have a pull on it, the effort trickled wide. Referee Mel Kenny blew the full-time whistle after the puck out by Bobby Douglas, confirming another county final success for Tooreen.

The Mayo champions now go forward to the provincial campaign with the hope of successfully defending their Connacht intermediate title.

*See Tuesday's print edition for a full report and reaction from the game