Mayo champions still on course to retain Connacht title

Tooreen booked their place in another AIB Connacht Intermediate Hurling Championship final with a 1-22 to 1-12 victory over British champions St. Gabriel’s in the semi-final at Dr. Hyde Park, Roscommon, writes Aiden Henry.

Their reward is a meeting with the Galway intermediate champions, Tynagh Abbey Duniry, in the final, which will be played at the same venue next Sunday week.

Tooreen are going for five provincial titles in a row, a run that stretches back to 2019 (the 2020 championship wasn't played due to the Covid-19 pandemic).

While it was easy enough for Tooreen in the semi-final against St. Gabriel's, it was far from their best display.

After getting off to a good start, they switched off from time to time throughout the game. Along with some wayward shooting, this allowed Londoners St. Gabriel’s to stay in contention right up to the closing moments.

All that said, Tooreen never looked like losing this game as they were the better side for most of the hour, especially in defence.

Looking ahead to the final, Tooreen will have to up their levels against their Galway opponents if they hope to make it five Connacht titles in a row – an assertion manager Ray Larkin concurred with after the game.

“It was a good win, even though we didn’t play very well,” said Larkin. “We will have a lot to do in training between now and the Connacht final. That performance would not be good enough to beat Tynagh Abbey Duniry.”

A goal from Fiachra Fitzpatrick helped St. Gabriel's enjoy a one-point lead at the break (1-7 to 0-9), but Tooreen took command in the third quarter with fine points from Shane Boland, Fergal Boland, Kenny Feeney and Sean Kenny, while Eoin Delaney found the back of the net in the 43rd minute to all but seal the win.

St. Gabriel’s didn’t give up and were only four points behind with three minutes of normal time remaining, but sensing the danger, Tooreen upped the ante again and finished off the game in style with six unanswered points.

Tooreen: B. Douglas (0-1); C. Finn (0-1), M. Morley, O. Greally; J. Boyle, S. Coyne, D. Kenny; D. Huane, S. Kenny (0-2); L. Lavin (0-2), K. Feeney (0-2), E. Delaney (1-3); S. Boland (0-7), F. Boland (0-4), S. Crinnigan.

Subs used: B. Morley, F. Burke.

St. Gabriel’s: P. Collins; N. Eames, N. Broderick, T. Linnane; S. Whelan, Cathal O’Carroll, C. Gardiner; N. Geoghan, R. Murphy; P. Naughton, Conor O’Carroll (0-3), F. Fitzpatrick; R. Lodge (0-1), S. Glynn (0-4), D. Coyne (1-2).

Subs used: A. Curtin (0-1), G. Kingston, E. Kelly (0-1), M. Hickey.