The Mayo minor hurlers contest the All Ireland Minor C Hurling final against Tyrone on Saturday in Ballinamore in Leitrim at 2.30pm. This is third year in a row that Mayo have reached this stage of the competition, winning it on both of their last two appearances in the final and beating Monaghan in both of those finals. This year it is Ulster opponents once again for Mayo with the red hand men from Tyrone standing in their way of collecting a three-in-a-row.
Mayo manager Brian Finn from Tooreen is especially keen to win the competition again this year as the winners will receive the newly comissioned Adrian Freeman Cup for the very first time. Adrian Freeman died tragically in Australia in 2010 at the age of 24. He was one of Mayo and Tooreen's finest young hurlers, having represented his club, county and province with distinction. He also represented Ireland in an u21 Hurling/Shinty International and was named a Christy Ring All Star in his short but hugely decorated career.
Finn and selector John Regan (Ballina Stephenites ) have worked very hard with a panel of 30 players from Ballyhaunis, Ballina, Ballyvary, Castlebar, Tooreen and Westport since March and are optimistic about their chances in the final. Finn was encouraged by his side’s strong performances in the Connacht Qualifier Group and will be looking again to the likes of Sean Kenny, Brian Peoples, Ross Egan, Shane Geraghty and Conor Browne to get them over the line this Saturday. Four of the minor players were also involved in the u21 team which were defeated by Meath in the recent All Ireland B semi-final and are very keen to achieve the ultimate goal at the u18 grade.
Tyrone have beaten Louth, Monaghan and Cavan to reach this stage of the competition and have claimed the Ulster Minor Hurling League Division 2 and the Ulster Minor Hurling Championship Shield this season already.
