When the final whistle is blown in McHale Park on Sunday, one team in white will be celebrating claiming the intermediate championship and promotion to the senior championship for next year. But will it be the white and green men from Burrishoole or the white and black clad side from the Gaeltacht in Tourmakeady.
Burrishoole, under the tutelage of Colm McManamon, this term have reacted very well to their relegation from the senior championship last year and have stormed to this year’s final, having already claimed the division 1B title en route. Tourmakeady for their part are looking to pick up the pieces from last year when they reached the showpiece occasion at this grade only to fall just short against Westport.
Both sides earlier in the summer had similar paths through the group stages of the competition winning three out of three. Burrishoole beat Ballyhaunis with ease by nine points, crushed Swinford by 10 points. In their final group game they were made work after a poor first half against Kilmeena before eventually emerging eight point winners. They kept up their strong showing in the last eight when they brushed aside the challenge of Cill Chomain by 3-16 to 1-6 at the end of August. At the semi final stage they held off the challenge of last year’s All Ireland junior finalists Kiltimagh, in McHale Park to book their place in Sunday’s encounter.
Burrishoole head into game undefeated
In their 14 games this year in league and championship action, Colm McManamon’s men have won 13 times, they drew once with Belmullet in the opening round of the league at the beginning of April. This run of form coupled with their early season win in the county cup final, where as winners of the Kelly Cup in west Mayo they beat off the challenge of the winners of other divisional cups to kick start what has the potential to be a year to remember for the men from McGovern Park.
But Tourmakeady will not be coming to town on Sunday just to make up the numbers, Jack Grimes’ side have serious designs on bringing home the Sweeney cup for the second time in five seasons. They last claimed the title in 2006, when they held off Parke (who themselves, claimed the junior title last weekend ) by a point. After flirting with the senior grade for a year, they found their way back in the ranks of the intermediate grade and made it all the way to the final last year. However they came up just short going down by 2-7 to 0-12 at the hands of Westport.
The men from the Gaeltacht have been in very good form themselves this year starting off with a 4-11 to 0-10 win over Crossmolina B, in their opening round game of the championship. Cill Chomain pushed them in the second round before they came away with a five point win. In their final group game Hollymount pushed them hard before Jack Grimes’ men came out on the right side of a 0-7 to 0-6 scoreline. In the last eight they had five points to spare over Ballyhaunis, before they saw off the challenge of Belmullet in the last four.
Big players need to step up on both sides
When it comes to Sunday’s action, both sides will have a number of key men they will be looking to for big performances, Burrishoole’s Jason Doherty kicked six points in his sides semi final win four them from placed balls and will want watching in the full forward line. Midfielder James Moran has been one of the stars of the show for Burrishoole all season and he put in another stirring performance in the final four showdown. Moran’s performances during the year have caught many people’s eyes and is definitely one that new Mayo manager James Horan will be casing an eye on for next year. In the semi-final they also had to content with Liam O’Malley having to sit out the action until late on due to injury, and if he manages to be fully fit for the side for Sunday it will be a big boost to the Burrishoole rearguard. Colm McManamon’s side’s race to the final has been impressive without doubt, but when you throw in the fact that they are missing a number of key players like Shane McDermott, Adrian and Enda McManamon it is all that more impressive.
For Tourmakeady, Kevin Dolan is the star man, upfront he kicked three points in his sides low scoring semi-final win. The side from the shores of Lough Mask are made of stern stuff and they showed that against Belmullet in their last championship match. They lost the inspirational Tom Naughton to injury before the half time break, but they were able to dig in and pull out the win at the death. A win sealed in unusual circumstances, goalkeeper Brian Heneghan came out the field to play in the forward line late on. When his side got a 45, his quick thinking saw him play the ball to Micheal O’Neill who slotted it between the posts to seal victory. In the second of three all west Mayo finals this year, it is sure to be another to come down to the wire on Sunday in McHale Park, while Burrishoole will go in as favourites Tourmakeady will not let them get anything easy.
