It’s been a punishing League campaign up in Division 2A for the county’s hurlers but it ended today on a high note. Over at McGovern Park in Ruislip this afternoon the hurlers recorded a 0-16 to 1-10 win over London, a result that ensures the retention of the county’s place in Division 2A once again next year, while consigning the Exiles to the drop.
The Mayo lads had the upper hand for most of the seventy minutes in this winner-take-all contest at Ruislip. The home side got a shot in the arm with a 16th minute goal by full forward Tadhg Healy but the visitors then reeled off four unanswered points to open a two-point gap.
It was level at the break and so, with London enjoying wind advantage in the second half, the game was there for either side to win.
Mayo got the first few scores on the resumption and for most of the second half they kept their noses in front. London did, though, pull level with less than ten minutes to go but by then they were down to fourteen players, as Kevin Reid had been dismissed on a second yellow.
A second London sending-off in the closing minutes – Garrett Lenihan walking on a second yellow – provided the visitors with the chance to pull clear. This they did, as they tacked on a few late points to win by three at the finish.
The win means that the hurlers finish fifth in Division 2A, level on three points with Meath – with whom they drew in the opening round – but behind them on points difference. It was a creditable end-point in the division for them, in light of the very significant step up in the quality of opposition they were up against in this NHL campaign.
A sign of the changing times in hurling comes with the realisation that next year one of the counties that Mayo will be hurling against in Division 2A will be Offaly. The Faithful County – four times All-Ireland champions, a sequence begun by their breakthrough Liam McCarthy Cup win in 1981 – were demoted from Division 1B today, following their defeat by Carlow in the relegation play-off at O’Connor Park.
Congrats to Mayo hurlers, a largely ignored and overlooked group of players. That they are in Div 2A, the third rank of the NHL, is a mighty credit to them, especially since they largely come from two clubs where football is the main attraction. It is also a great credit to the footballers of Aughamore and Ballyhaunis that they are prepared to give the necessary leeway to the hurlers. Next year will be a battle again but I’m sure that they will be up for it.
Well done hurlers. Don’t forget, no Keith there. Fergal Boland also on the fringes.
Congrats to Mayo on a great result, a major achievement to stay in 2A.
Congratulations to the Mayo hurlers. A much higher standard than they have played before and they will only improve in this company. Keith and Fergal are a big loss to this team so all the more credit to them.
Well done today to the hurlers, great effort to stay in Division 2A. AndyD, your point about Ballyhaunis and Tooreen being the main contributors is correct in the instance of Tooreen, but note that Castlebar had the same number of starters (3) and subs (3) as Ballyhaunis today (Plus, two of Tooreen’s 7 starters today are from Ballina – debatable if they should have been allowed to go all the way to Tooreen to hurl, given Castlebar is closer).
Well done lads great efforts by each and everyone of you ye all desert a lot more recognition and hopefully you will have that next year congratulations again
With the limited time Fergal got with the footballers you would think he would have been better off to go with the hurlers he has got a raw deal one half against the Rossies playing in to a storm and didn’t have a bad display given the conditions
You’re right Reekview – he got nothing pretty much zero time in the league so far which was strange seeing as was excellent in leitrim. By far the best on the pitch that day. Maybe he’s not buzzing in training? It would be good to see him get some game time this weekend.
The reality is that Mayo football is in a different galaxy to Mayo hurling and perhaps his ambition is to operate at the higher level, like Keith has done. I dunno.
Does anyone know the story with David Kenny? He was a handy defender on the u21 winning side. Is he currently on the hurling team?
Strange to think that in 2019, our starting championship team in the summer is unlikely to have even one defender from that side. Coen is a maybe[and he lined out at midfield as much as he did at no.6, even if midfield really isnt his position], EOD hasnt featured at all this year and Plunkett while he has, in my opinion, done very well so far for us this year might not get the nod to start. Cunniffe, Kenny, Hall and Akram not involved which to be frank, they should be disappointed with. At 23/24 you need to be in the county senior squad if you have any real ambition. If you aren’t then, barring injuries being a major cause, you need to ask yourself, what am I doing wrong, what can I do to improve my game.
This time next year will be different I think.
Well done to the hurlers!
Speaking of that u21 team….anyone have a clue what the story is with James Carr???
I think kenny went to the football trials but didn’t make it further, is playing great hurling the last few years with club and county.
Just to reply to Andy’s post at the top, yes there is great co operation between the football clubs and hurling clubs in the area but the guys playing hurling for both tooreen and Ballyhaunis see hurling as their first game, and that’s a key difference. So until players in the other clubs with hurling teams feel the same way they won’t reach the standards set by Tooreen and Ballyhaunis, that’s the big challenge for them.
Massive result for the lads, fair play to them. Being exposed to the sort of quality this year will bring them on massively, and having at least one more year of it is obviously even better. If they manage to retain their position for 2 or 3 more years it could be big for Mayo hurling