Mayo's top hurling parish isn't going to Croke Park today to make up the numbers

HAVING finally ended their All-Ireland championship semi-final jinx before Christmas, Tooreen are ready to go all-out for national glory in Croke Park this evening (7 p.m.)

Standing in the east Mayo club's way of the AIB All-Ireland intermediate championship title is Limerick's Monaleen, a club that lost its senior status in 2021 but bounced back impressively last year and now stands on the cusp of a coveted national title.

From one of hurling's elite counties they may be, but it's quite likely that the Tooreen lads will have more experience of Croke Park, a great number of them having represented their county there on a number of occasions.

“People talk about the one per cent and I think that could be a little bit that could get us over the line,” the Tooreen manager, Ray Larkin, noted.

“I think there's only one of our panel who hasn't played in Croke Park. Everybody else has. They'll be used to the set-up in Croke Park, the walk around, the lights, the dressing rooms. They're not going to be googly-eyed when they go in.”

For Ray, these past few days have been all about managing the occasion and keeping the players focused on the game.

“We have mimicked the Mayo plan around going up and where we're staying. It's the same way the county team does it. It'll be similar, so it won't be anything new to them.”

The atmosphere in the locality has been electric but Ray and his management team have to drive home to the players that they still have work to do.

“The Christmas alone was massive,” said Ray.

“Going to Mass and people congratulating you and the players, but while we have to enjoy the moment and appreciate the club and supporters, we still have a job to do yet.

"We don't want to be the team that's remembered in 10 years' time as the team that got to an All-Ireland final and got beaten. We're up there to win it, and when we get up there and get the Tooreen jerseys on and walk out, it will be massive for the club but we'll get them (the players) in after that and remind them that we're here to finish the job. We have to keep them focused. Yes, let them enjoy it but remind them that the job is not finished yet.

“The preparations have been excellent. This week has just been about getting lads' heads right. They're not going to get any fitter and the touch is not going to get any better at this stage; it's just about looking after themselves and trying to stay healthy. We've been wrapping them in cotton wool!”

Mental preparation is important too.

“It's massive,” said Ray. “They come here and see the flags on the hall and all the poles, but still we have to remind them it's another game – whether it's Croke Park or the county final or the first round of the championship, you have to win the game and not get caught up in the monent.

"It might happen to one or two of the lads but we'll give them a pat on the back and have a chat with them, and tell them 'Come on, we need to win this'.

“It would the pinnacle of their careers and great to look back on. There will be barren times ahead, no doubt. These are good times now and you need to capitalise on them.”

NO PANIC

What has pleased Ray hugely in the run to the final is the lack of panic among his players when things aren't going exactly to plan.

That was especially evident in the Connacht final against Killimor, but even in the All-Ireland semi-final against Down's Liatroim Fontenoys, the Tooreen lads responded when some late pressure came on.

“You look back (at the Liatroim game) and say we started very well – probably too well, maybe. We had told the lads how good, how decent Liatroim were. We got such a good start and then maybe complacency crept in.

“In the second half, when they mixed it up a bit, our lads didn't get involved in any of the shenanigans or messing. We pushed on and were nine points up with a few minutes to go but took the foot off the pedal a small bit. They got a goal that took a bit of a deflection and we gave away some frees after that, but I felt it never really looked in doubt. I think there were a few more gears in us if we had to up it a small bit.

“Even among ourselves on the sideline we didn't panic. We threw on a few subs to kill time but we didn't have to make an awful lot of changes.”

Ray and his selectors have done their homework on Monaleen ahead of today's final. “We saw the last three games that they played,” he explained.

“They're big and physical. I think about 12 of them have gone through the Limerick academy ranks so they'll be well conditioned and they'll be fit. They can score goals – they've got two goals in the last three games they've played. They're a team that scores goals, and they conceded none in those games.

"They're well managed but like any team they have their weak points and we'll see if we can work on them and target them.

“They have struggled a bit in those last three games but they've finished well. They scored 1-4, I think, in the last few minutes against Bray Emmets (All-Ireland IHC semi-final) to get them over the line (the game finished 2-19 to 0-20). They won't go away. We'll be telling the lads if they're leading near the ends, that's when Monaleen are dangerous.”

STUNNED

The manager and the players have been stunned by the support from locals on this epic run.

“It's been phenomenal,” said Ray. “It's a pity in one way that the game is at 7 p.m., but then again it could be once in a lifetime for families to go up and stay the night. We have a function room booked so the supporters can come and enjoy it.

“Some supporters might not have ever been in Croke Park and this is their first chance to be there and cheer on their own club. Back in the day when they were hurling they didn't have this opportunity.

“The game is being live-streamed as well but I think there'll be damn all people here watching it!”

The last person leaving the village today can turn the lights off.