Ballina boys bask in back-to-back glory

Ballina Stephenites successfully defended the Mayo Senior Football Championship crown on Saturday evening with an easier than expected victory over neighbours Knockmore.

If anything, the seven points margin was probably kind on a Knockmore side that was never able to get to the pitch of the game, with Ballina overcoming the loss of injured former All-Star Ger Cafferkey to have this game done and dusted as early as the 39th minute. At that stage they led 1-8 to 0-3 and from there until full-time kept their fierce rivals at arm’s length to record a 1-12 to 0-8 win at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park.

A stunning goal on the counterattack by Evan Regan after only nine minutes helped send Niall Heffernan’s team on their way and the former Mayo attacker was unlucky to smack a second effort against the post in the second-half.

Knockmore, who had former Mayo star Kevin McLoughlin returning to the fold after injury, were unable to make inroads in the face of a stubborn Ballina Stephenites defence in which Sam Callinan, Padraig O’Hora and Liam Golden excelled.

The Backs Parish boys, without midfielder Pearse Ruttledge through suspension, scored only three points from play compared to the 1-7 of Ballina.

The Green and Red can now look forward to an overseas trip to play London champions North London Shamrocks in a fortnight’s time.

Earlier in the day, there was a dramatic conclusion to the Mayo Junior Football Championship final where 14-man Bonniconlon scored the final three points to earn a draw with Cill Chomáin. The Erris side looked to have the hard work done when recovering from a very slow start to use their extra player wisely and lead 2-6 to 1-6 after 44 minutes. But the Gaeltacht outfit failed to score again, with two points by Jonathan Lavelle and a late free by substitute David Walsh earning Bonniconlon another day out.

See Tuesday’s Western People for full coverage, including reports, reaction, opinion and analysis, of both the Mayo SFC and JFC Finals.