It has been a busy few weeks for the Ballyhaunis hurlers and it is about to get busier again. On Sunday, they face into their fourth game in 14 days, having draw the Mayo Senior Hurling Championship final with Tooreen last Sunday week, before they eventually got the better of them in another Titanic encounter in Ballyhaunis last Sunday by just three points. They followed that up on Wednesday evening with a 1-12 to 0-9 win over Roscommon champions Oran in the semifinal of the Connacht Intermediate Championship in the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence and now on this coming Sunday, they face Galway champions Ahascragh-Fohenagh in the final of that competition at 2pm in Athleague.
If it does not rain it pours for club players sometimes. The Galway champions finally won the intermediate title a few week ago after losing finals in 2012 and 2014, when they saw off Ballinderreen on a score of 2-15 to 0-8 in Athenry. They pose a big threat in attack to Ballyhaunis on Sunday, with Galway senior man Cathal Mannion and Eoghain Delane hitting 1-3 each, and having eight different scorers on the day in the final. Ballyhaunis will be looking for big performances at the back from Mayo captain Brian Hunt along with Fergal Lyons and Austin Lyons to shut down the Galway men's attack. Keith Higgins and Eoghan Collins will be their engine room in the middle of the park, with veteran Pearse Higgins, Kieran McDermott, Adrian Philips, and Stephen Hoban looked to to keep the scoreboard ticking over on their side.
It is going to be a big ask for the Ballyhaunis lads to get over this one, they will go into the game as underdogs, but it has been a very bright year for the small game in Mayo and this would be a great ending to it if they can get over the line on Sunday.
