Mayo SFC Final: Replay required out west

Mayo SFC Final

Ballina Stephenites 1-15 Westport 0-18

By Colm Gannon at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park

Drama wasn’t in short supply in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park where an injury time two point free from Frank Irwin kept Ballina Stephenites three-in-a-row dream alive and broke Westport hearts – as the sides will have to do it all again next Saturday.

The opening 10 minutes of this one looked like there was only going to be one winner with Ballina more than half a dozen points clear, before either side had really broke a sweat.

Trailing by seven points, Westport needed some inspiration to get themselves into this game. Come the time, come Lee Keegan, who hammered over their first score of day.

But just as soon as the ball left his boot, he crumpled to the ground. Hitting the deck alongside him was Ballina’s Padraig O’Hora who was doing his all to stop Keegan getting the shot off – neither of the club lionhearts were able to continue, leaving big holes to be filled by teammates for the remaining 50 minutes of the game.

Ballina had started like a freight train, Evan Regan drove over a two point free inside the opening minute, Jack Irian and Frank Irwin followed up with singles before six minutes had gone. Mikey Murray then landed a huge two pointer to have his side six clear and Regan got his first point from play of the day. Ballina were buzzing and Westport were faltering.

Keegan’s score broke the Westport duck, when Regan slotted over a two pointer from play not long after the resumption it looked like Ballina were the side who weren’t going to miss their talisman.

Westport have shown in the championship all season to never count them out and they found their composure and fought back, with Finbar McLoughlin, Joe Grady and Rory Bridenden getting scores to bring it back to a five-point game with five to go in the half.

Ballina should have rattled the net when David Tighe got in behind the cover, but his blasted his effort high and off the post and there was still time for Conall Dawson to make it a four-point game with at the short whistle from a close range free.

Finbar McLoughlin cut the gap back to three not long after the resumption, but scores from Luke Doherty and Conor McStay had Ballina five to the good with 20 minutes left. Westport though were only about to find their top gear, Ben Doyle forced David Clarke into a great save to deny a goal but give Westport a point, Kevin Keane then stripped Clarke of the ball and pushed the ball over the bar and Killian Kilkelly converted from a close rand free to make it a two point game with 15 minutes to go.

Pat Lambert put the minimum between them just seconds after coming on. Evan Regan relieved the pressure with a point from a free – but it was all square eight minutes from time when Finbar McLaughlin hammered over a two pointer. The Westport cause was further helped when Niall Feeney was shown a black card.

From the resulting free, Killian Kilkelly landed a two-point free, and Westport led for the first time in the game. Tom Lambert made the gap three and things were looking good for the 2022 champions. But Ballina are made of stern stuff, and they weren’t giving in.

Mikey Murray dropped a dangerous ball in on top of the Westport goal and Evan Regan got the touch to send the ball to the back of the net. Luke Doherty got a point after a brilliant block down by Dylan Thornton set up the play.

Back came Westport and Brian McDermot landed a huge two pointer, with two minutes of the four of injury time gone Killian Kilkelly put his side two clear and their hands almost on the cup.

However, there was still time for Ballina to show what champions are made of and when Frank Irwin had the weight of the club on his shoulders with a last second two point free he made no mistake and set up round two next Saturday.

Scorers for Ballina Stephenites: Evan Regan 1-6 (1tpf, 1tp, 1f), Frank Irwin 0-3 (1tpf), Mikey Murray 0-2 (1tp), Luke Doherty 0-2, Jack Irwin 0-1, Conor McStay 0-1.

Scorers for Westport: Finbar McLaughlin 0-4 (1tp), Killian Kilkelly 0-4 (1tpf, 1f), Brian McDermott 0-2 (1tp) Lee Keegan 0-1, Joe Grady 0-1, Rory Brickenden 0-1, Conal Dawson 0-1, Ben Doyle 0-1, Kevin Keane 0-1, Pat Lambert 0-1, Tom Lambert 0-1.

Ballina Stephenites: David Clarke; Liam Golden, Luke Jordan, Ciaran Boland; Sam Callinan, Padraig O’Hora, David Tighe; Mike Murray, Frank Irwin; Dylan Thornton, Conor McStay, Niall Feeney; Evan Regan, Jack Irwin, Luke Doherty.

Subs: Ciaran Tracey for Padraig O’Hora, Luke Feeney for Ciaran Tracey, Ben Thornton for Jack Irwin, Sean Regan for Ciaran Boland.

Westport: Paddy O’Malley; Ben Doyle, Niall McManamon, Brian McDermott; Conal Dawson, Eoghan McLaughlin, Finbar McLaughlin; Rory Brickenden, Lee Keegan; Luke Tunney, Joey Holmes, Brian O’Malley; Lorcan Silke, Killian Kilkelly, Colm Moran.

Subs: Joe Grady for Lee Keegan, Kevin Keane for Lorcan Silke, Pat Lambert for Colm Moran, Tom Lambert for Luke Tunney.

Referee: Paul Lydon (Kiltimagh).