Major fallout from county final, crisis feared for Mayo hurling

Home advantage will no longer be granted to Tooreen or Ballyhaunis for future Mayo Senior Hurling Championship finals. The hardline stance comes after the unsavoury scenes at the end of last month’s final in Ballyhaunis where a controversial late goal saw Tooreen lift the TJ Tyrell Cup for a fifth consecutive year.

A number of suspensions were issued arising from the flashpoint at full-time.

The neighbouring clubs, who have met in thirteen of the past fourteen finals, have long had the reciprocal arrangement of hosting the county final on alternate years, but Mayo GAA have called a halt. To play all future finals – both senior and junior – on neutral territory is one of several recommendations that have been adopted following a review of last month’s senior final by Mayo GAA vice-chairman Michael Diskin, referees coordinator Sean Mac Éil and Sean Ó Raghallaigh, chair of the Mayo Hurling Board.

The hurling board heretofore appointed the match officials but that has reverted to Mayo GAA’s Competition Control Committee who will ensure that no official appointed has any family or historical connection to the participating clubs.

In news that could have even wider implications for hurling in the county however, all three officers of the Mayo Hurling Board – Sean Ó Raghallaigh, Trevor Kelly and Ann McGahon – are to step away from their positions. The revelation was made by Mayo GAA chairman Seamus Tuohy at last Thursday’s monthly county board meeting who said Mayo hurling now found itself in a “very challenging situation”.

“We are at a crossroads, particularly at underage,” said Tuohy, “and it’s putting a huge question mark on games in 2026.

“We need an underage structure and we need a senior structure and basically, it’s not in a good place at the moment,” lamented Tuohy who while disappointed at the departure of Ó Raghallaigh as hurling chairman, hinted that it was understandable.

“He has single-handedly been running the hurling organisation over the last three or four years. He’s put in a huge amount of work and it’s unfair on one person. It’s something that needs to be addressed for the good of hurling.

“We have moved from four clubs to ten clubs in the last couple of years but is it sustainable going forward? I’d put a huge question mark on it at this particular stage – and that is sad for hurling in the county.

“We’re in Division 2 of the league next year, we’re very competitive, so we need structure. We’re doing very well at academy level and there’s a lot of good work going on at national schools level but that needs to transfer into clubs and it’s not happening at the moment.

“If there’s anyone who wants to get involved at county level, it’s important that they come forward. We are at a crossroads,” Seamus Tuohy concluded.