It was a familiar pairing in the Mayo Senior hurling decider this year, with Ballyhaunis crowned champions for the 12th time in 15 years, writes Stephen Barry.

What’s more they have beaten Tooreen in the final for nine of those titles, including the last three years in a row, with the 2016 winners only decided after a replay.

But no amount of neighbourly familiarity could’ve prepared the players for the 90-second barrage of drama which unfolded around the three-quarter mark.

Tooreen won a penalty and a shot at the lead, but Kenny Feeney’s shot was saved by Ballyhaunis ‘keeper Donal O’Brien. In the scramble that followed, Tooreen won another penalty and, this time, Cathal Freeman stepped up to smash it against the crossbar.

The onlookers even predict the types of penalty with Feeney “not running up at all” and Freeman to “hit with more venom”.

Even after take two, Tooreen’s Sean Regan regains possession once again and picks a superb pass to David Harrison, who finally sticks it in the net.

Phew – there’ll scarcely be a more hard-earned goal all year!

In the end, though, dual star Keith Higgins got the title-holders over the winning line. He had scored the equaliser in the drawn game and his late goal on top of nine points pushed Ballyhaunis to a 2-13 to 1-13 replay win.

They’ll barely get a moment’s pause either, with their Connacht Intermediate Hurling Championship semi-final now fixed for Wednesday night.

H/T: Balls.ie