Complacency is the enemy in Tooreen’s next step on the road
Tooreen's Liam Lavin will hope to continue his red-hot form into the All-Ireland semi-final against Eire Óg Carrickmore. Picture: David Farrell Photography
Tooreen once again stand sixty minutes away from a second appearance in Croke Park in three years, but to get there, they will have to get through an opponent that in many ways, are a mirror of themselves.
Tyrone’s Eire Óg Carrickmore, like Tooreen, are their county’s most successful hurling club, with a record 32 Tyrone senior titles, defeating old rivals Eoghan Ruadh of Dungannon in the final once again this season for a sixth title in succession.
Like Tooreen, they have a small population (just over 600) but have had a long wait to finally secure a provincial title. They had reached the Ulster intermediate final on two previous occasions but it was third time’s the charm when they defeated Lisbellaw St Patrick's (Fermanagh) earlier this month for a breakthrough provincial championship title triumph.
On the surface of things, Tooreen drawing an Ulster opponent in the semi-final may be the perceived ‘easier’ draw, with Kilkenny’s Danesfort and Tipperary’s Upperchurch-Drombane in the other semi-final.
Indeed, Tooreen defeated an Ulster side, Liatroim Fontenoys, nearly three years ago to the day for their first ever All-Ireland intermediate semi-final victory, which was also at Kingspan Breffni Park. But this Tooreen group are around long enough to know nothing at this stage is ‘easy’.
“That would be the perceived easier side of the draw but we’re not buying into that narrative at all,” assured Tooreen chairman Pat Freyne. “Some of the team went to see the Ulster final and they were impressed with what they saw. They’re a very accomplished side.
“Carrickmore has lost a few intermediate finals in Ulster, so they'll be delighted to get across the line and they'll see it as an opportunity as well. They certainly won’t fear a Mayo team, they will see it as opportunity for them to get to Croke Park for the first time.
“They're an accomplished side and it's going to be a tough, tough game. We're confident if we play to our ability it'll take a very good team to beat us, but Carrickmore are a good team so it's going to be a tough fixture certainly.”
But it does appear that Tooreen might be peaking at just the right time. The county final against Ballyhaunis was a close battle but that was always going to be the case. A late – and controversial – goal saw them retain the TJ Tyrell Cup.
Their Connacht quarter-final victory against Four Roads was a solid if not spectacular win but they went through the gears with an emphatic victory over St Gabriel’s in the semi-final, scoring 3-21 and repeated the trick against Meelick-Eyrecourt with a devastating display to win a sixth Connacht title in eight years.
While captain Daniel Huane is still unlikely to be fit after sustaining a shoulder injury during the win against Four Roads, Tooreen otherwise have a full squad available. Former Mayo hurler Cathal Freeman, who now lives in Australia, made a surprise appearance off the bench in the Connacht final and while its unknown whether he makes another big cameo this weekend, it would be no surprise should manager Ray Larkin have a trick or two up his sleeve.
“Ray’s a great guy, we were lucky to get him,” said Pat Freyne on the impact the Tooreen and Mayo manager has had since he arrived at the club more than a decade ago.
“He played for us for a couple of years. He was actually living in the area for a few years before he got involved and then we coaxed him over. He served us well for a couple of years, won a couple of county medals with Tooreen. Then he got involved in the coaching team with the seniors and did a few years coaching.
“He's a great love for the game, great knowledge of the game. We're very lucky to have him and he's really bought into it and really commissioned himself to Tooreen and the results speak for themselves since he's come in.”
