Fresh from reclaiming the TJ Tyrell Cup a fortnight ago from Ballyhaunis, Tooreen will be making the trip to Hyde Park on Saturday afternoon to start another championship odyssey when they get their Connacht Intermediate Hurling Championship campaign under way. the game throws in at 1.30pm.
The Blue Devils are the defending champions in this competition, having claimed the title the last time it was played in 2019, and on Saturday, they'll face Roscommon champions Athleague for a spot in the semi-finals of the competition. If they get over this one, they will be jumping on a plane and heading even further east the following weekend, where the London champions Robert Emmetts will be waiting for the winners at the semi-final stage in Ruislip.
Tooreen picked up their 31st Mayo title following a 0-15 to 1-11 win over Ballyhaunins in the Mayo final two weeks ago, with Cathal Freeman putting in a man-of-the-match display for his side, hitting three points from play, while the ever-reliable Shane Boland chipped in with a massive ten-point return over the hour and Tooreen manager Ray Larkin will be hoping that the ace attacker's eye is in when they take to the wide open spaces of Hyde Park tomorrow lunch time.
Alongside Freeman and Shane Boland, Tooreen will be looking for big performances from the likes of Stephen Coyne, Fergal Boland, Sean Regan, Michael Morley, Daniel Ruane and David Kenny against a tricky looking opponent from Roscommon.
Athleague claimed the Roscommon title with a win over their near neighbours Tremane on a score of 3-12 to 0-15, it was the first title for Athleague since their 2018 victory. Both of these sides met in the Connacht championship that year, with Tooreen winning 0-17 to 1-9 win on their way to the Connacht final.
In their Roscommon win, goals from Eoin Ward, Robbie Fallon and Cormac Kelly proved vital to Athleague's win as they came from a half time defect of 0-10 to 2-3 to turn the tables over their opponents, Tremane - who interestingly hail from the same parish as Athleague.
