Tooreen players enjoy the brilliant adventure in Mayo and beyond

In Croke Park this evening, Tooreen will face one of the biggest games in their proud and illustrious history when they take on Tipperary’s Upperchurch-Drombane in the AIB All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling Championship final, writes Patrick Hennelly.

This year, as in recent years, Michael Morley has been a defensive stalwart for the team, and he explained that everything has been going to plan at training in the lead up to the final.

He outlined: “Training has been going well and the mood in the camp is very good, and it is great to be training at this time of the year. It was nice to be able to look forward to an All-Ireland final during Christmas.”

Morley added: “I know it is not like any other game, but we have to try and treat this upcoming game in that frame of mind. We have been doing what we have been doing all year at training, such as the same types of drills, etc. Nothing has really changed too much at training ahead of the final, and we won’t change in the way we approach games. It is all about doing what we know works best for ourselves.”

Michael said the 2023 All-Ireland final was a new experience for the group then, but hopefully that experience would stand to them this evening. “The majority of us have all played in Croke Park and the lads will be able to deal with the occasion,” he pointed out.

Morley, who also stars for Mayo, has also seen a nice blend of youth and experience develop in the Tooreen squad.

“There is a varied age group in the team and some new blood has been added to the panel over the last number of years. In 2023, we had Oisin Greally just coming into the team at corner back and he is really one of the leaders of the group now. Fionn Delaney and David Delaney have really stepped up to the mark this year. I would say that this is probably the strongest squad we have had in my time playing for Tooreen.”

Tooreen know what to expect from their opponents on Saturday, who will be playing senior championship hurling in Tipperary next season.

“They were only relegated from the Tipperary senior championship two or three years ago. A friend of mine is from Tipperary, and he also plays hurling in the county, and I know that they are a top team. We have no doubt as to the challenge ahead of us. However, all we can do is perform to the very best of our ability on the day.

“Since Monaleen (Limerick) defeated us back in 2023, they have stood up well in the Limerick senior championship.

“We have also gained a lot from playing senior championship teams from Galway in challenge matches, and we know what we are capable of producing ourselves.”

Tooreen have been steadily improving as the season has progressed. Morley observed: “We just got over the line in the county final, and we didn’t have the best of starts against Four Roads in the Connacht Championship. We have been improving game on game.

“The way the championship in Mayo is structured, you have July and August when the games commence and after that you have those extra months together as a team between training and challenge matches. The season has stood to us as a group, working together, and hopefully we can peak at just the right time.”

Morley lives in London with his partner and travels home for matches. It is a unique situation, but he is committed to the Tooreen cause and said it is great to be part of the set-up.

“I moved over to London with my partner in May of last year. I explained to the management that I was moving over, and in fairness they have been great accommodating me, and the team were also happy with my decision.

“The travelling home for the matches is not bad as I was living in Dublin before I moved to London. I was used to travelling to Mayo from Dublin once or twice a week, and that was also a lot of travelling when you consider getting out of the traffic jams in Dublin. It would normally take up to three hours to get home to Mayo.

“I am blessed to have Knock airport as I wouldn’t be able to commute home from London otherwise. Where I live in London, I am just an hour away from the airport, and Knock airport is just 15 minutes from my house in Mayo.”

Morley said the commute from London to Mayo has been 'challenging' but also a great experience.

He concluded: “I love being part of the Tooreen panel and they are my friends and team-mates. It is great to be involved in the team, and it is worth the sacrifice. It has been an adventure.”