Tooreen are on their way to Croker.

Their All-Ireland Intermediate hurling Championship semi-final against Liatrom Fontenoys of Down finally went ahead at Breffni Park in Cavan this afternoon, having been put back by 24 hours due to the then prevailing sub-zero temperatures. With the cold snap over this morning, the pitch was fine for action today.

Tooreen really looked to be chomping at the proverbial bit this afternoon, as they roared from the traps, scoring 1-2 without reply facing into the wind. They led from start to finish today, taking a 1-9 to 0-7 lead into half-time before going on to win by 1-18 to 1-14.

I can’t say a whole pile more about the game, aside from noting that I was in the parish today – travelling down this morning for Dad’s month’s mind Mass – and I had half an eye on the live stream that was being shown on the TV in Moran’s pub in the village afterwards.

It was great too to see all the blue and white flags fluttering around the locality today. Tooreen’s story of ongoing incremental development, year after year, is little short of inspirational, as this piece by Maurice Brosnan in the Irish Examiner yesterday confirms.

Next stop for the East Mayo club is Croke Park, where they’ll meet Monaleen of Limerick in the All-Ireland IHC final in mid-January. They got the better of Bray Emmets in today’s other semi-final, a real ding-dong tussle that the Limerick side prevailed in thanks to two late goals.

Monaleen were hurling at Senior level in Limerick last year so they’ll be tough opponents for Tooreen in next month’s decider. As should by now be apparent to all, however, there’s nothing the Tooreen lads relish more than a challenge and so you can be sure they’ll be well up for this one.

Huge congrats to Tooreen on today’s landmark win and the best of luck to them in next month’s All-Ireland final.