The success of the Mayo minor hurlers in winning the All Ireland Minor C Championship was the major bright spot in the year for all involved with hurling in the county. The team led by manager Brian Finn and Johnny Regan defeated Monaghan in Ballinamore, Leitrim at the beginning of September. En route to the final, they saw off the challenge of Sligo and Cavan. It was a double minor celebration for Tooreen’s David Kenny who also picked up an All Ireland minor football winners medal a few weeks later.
Other big personal achievements for Mayo hurlers saw Derek McDonnell (Belmullet ) being selected for the Christy Ring Cup team of the year, and dual senior player Keith Higgins picking up his second football All Star. In the senior ranks, Christy Phillips took over as the manager of the senior team this year with Ciaran Hynes and Austin Kenny as his selectors. Mayo managed to maintain their league status thanks to a win over Armagh and a draw with Roscommon, while they succumbed to losses to Meath, London and Down. In the Christy Ring Cup, Mayo weren’t able to make the progress they hoped losing to Kildare in Newbridge, before losing Wicklow in the second round and exiting the competition. The Mayo u21s lost out to Roscommon in the Connacht u21 B final in Castlebar by a brace of points following a tough battle. On the club scene Tooreen regained the Mayo senior hurling championship after a long absence with a devastating display against Ballyhaunis. They went on to come up just short in the Connacht intermediate final.
