Route to Connacht final for Mayo champions Tooreen requires a London bypass

Mayo hurling champions Tooreen are well used to Connacht finals at this stage but to reach this year's intermediate decider, they'll have to do so with a London bypass, writes Brian Gillespie.

The squad are in the UK capital to face St. Gabriel's on Saturday (November 15, 1 p.m.) in McGovern Park, Ruislip, where it will be a case of renewing acquaintances.

St. Gabriel's were the opposition at the same stage last year, when Tooreen ran out fairly comfortable 10-point winners (1-22 to 1-12) to set up a meeting with Galway champions Tynagh-Abbey/Duniry in the final.

Ray Larkin's men enjoyed a good start in the 2024 semi-final but switched off from time to time throughout the game, which, combined with some wayward shooting, allowed the Londoners to stay in contention up to the closing moments.

However, Tooreen never really looked like losing the game as they were the better side for most of the hour, especially in defence.

On the day, Rory Lodge, Sean Glynn, Danny Coyne and Conor O'Carroll were the main scorers for St. Gabriel's, while Shane and Fergal Boland and Eoin Delaney led the way for Tooreen.

In the recent London final, Lodge, Glynn and Coyne were all on the scoresheet again in a 2-15 to 1-13 victory over Kilburn Gaels, but the chief scorer on that occasion was Jack Morrissey with a goal and four points. He will need watching by the Tooreen rearguard, but Glynn is the main man – not only for St. Gabriel's, but also for London. Indeed, Glynn was named Christy Ring Player of the Year after London's successful campaign this year.

In a similar way to Ray Larkin with Tooreen and Mayo, Neil Rogers manages both St. Gabriel's and London. The last time they met on the sidelines was when Mayo defeated London to claim the Allianz National Hurling League Division 3 title in Kildare in late March.

While disappointed that day, Rogers went on to lead London to the Christy Ring Cup title, while Mayo and Larkin were left deflated when they lost to Roscommon in the Nickey Rackard Cup final. Swings and roundabouts.

Both Larkin and Rogers and hurling men through and through, and you can be sure they will have their teams well prepared for Saturday's clash. Based on last year's win, Tooreen will be favourites, but then there are the variables – the venue, the conditions, the support (or lack thereof, perhaps).

One thing Tooreen have in abundance is experience. Before last year's Connacht final defeat, they won the previous four deciders (2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023; there was no championship in 2020 because of Covid-19), and they were also champions in 2017 and defeated finalists in 2018. That means they've contested the last seven finals. They simply haven't been losing semi-finals, and that's something St. Gabriel's will be trying desperately to change on Saturday afternoon.

Ray Larkin and his player will be desperate to win back a title they must be coming to think of as rightfully theirs. As they've proven over the years, they have the wherewithal to win. They've never lacked the hunger. So there's no reason why they can't get over the line in London and reach another provincial decider. But St. Gabriel's will make it very hard for them; of that you can be sure.