Ballina Stephenites crowned league champions after thrilling final
Westport’s Luke Tunney offloads the ball ahead of Ballina Stephenites Conor Jordan during the AbbVie Mayo SFL Division 1 final at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park last Sunday. Picture: David Farrell Photography
Yet again, a meeting of Ballina Stephenites and Westport in a final at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park went the way of the senior county champions as Ballina held on to be crowned league champions for the first time since 2021.
Even with Sam Callinan, Ger Cafferkey and Dylan Thornton absent, the strength in depth of the Stephenites was evident. Indeed, when you can spring off the bench former Mayo panellists Conor McStay and Ciaran Treacy, as well as rising young star Patrick Carr, to combine for 1-7, few clubs, if any, can boast a panel as deep as Ballina and Niall Heffernan’s men remain the team to beat with the Mayo Senior Club Championship getting underway next month.
Westport, who themselves were missing Rory Brickenden, Conal Dawson and Lee Keegan, will feel they were denied a penalty in added time after Eoghan McLaughlin appeared to be impeded as he went for goal in injury-time, but referee Paul Lydon waved play on much to the Coveys frustration. But with the strong wind behind them in the first half, Westport did not do enough damage on the scoreboard, scoring 1-8 in comparison to Ballina’s return of 3-11 in the second period, while first-half injuries to Mark Moran and Brian McDermott did them no favours.
Ballina were 0-4 to 0-2 ahead after eight minutes, with captain Evan Regan firing over the pick of the scores through a superb two-point free against the tricky wind. Westport full-forward Killian Kilkelly, meanwhile, saw a trio of two-point attempts go wayward as Pat Holmes’s side struggled early on in front of the posts.
Westport would eventually find their accuracy with back-to-back two-point frees through Kevin Keane and Kilkelly to go back in front. Luke Jordan’s fisted point left one between them before Westport raised the first green flag of the day through Luke Tunney after receiving a defence-splitting pass from Mark Moran.
The gap remained at four, 1-8 to 0-7, as half-time approached, with Westport duo Colm Moran and Jack O’Malley trading scores with Ballina’s Matthew Leonard and Niall Feeney. Ballina could have made it one-point game on the stroke of half-time, but Sean Regan was denied a goal thanks to a great save by goalkeeper Paddy O’Malley.
Eight minutes into the second half, Ballina went back in front thanks to Ciaran Treacy and two-pointers from David Tighe and Patrick Carr before Westport restored parity through Kilkelly.
The next four minutes saw both sides strike 1-1. Conor Jordan rifled home for Ballina, followed by a Carr single, only to see Ben Holmes thunder a shot past David Clarke moments later, with Holmes tagging on a point for good measure.
Ballina went back in front again on 44 minutes through a lightning quick move down the field, with Mike Murray teeing up Treacy to palm the ball in the net from close range to put the north Mayo men up by three.
Keane and Colm Moran made it a one-point game again, only for Ballina to restore their three-point lead through Conor Jordan and McStay.
Yet with two minutes to go, Westport were back ahead as they hit 1-2 without reply. Their third goal arrived from the penalty spot after Colm Moran was hauled down, and Kilkelly tucked his effort into the bottom corner.
That would be Westport’s final score of the game however, as Ballina responded with their third goal seconds later through Frank Irwin. Westport saw shouts for a second penalty waved away in added time, and three points on the spin from McStay secured the David Gavin Memorial Cup for Ballina.
Attention for both now turns to championship in three weeks. Westport have a home tie against Charlestown Sarsfields while Ballina will begin their quest for four-in-a-row on home turf against Garrymore.
Scorers – Ballina Stephenites: Conor Jordan and Ciaran Treacy 1-0-1 each, Frank Irwin 1-0-0, Patrick Carr 0-1-1, Conor McStay 0-0-4, Evan Regan (1tpf) and David Tighe 0-1-0 each, Mike Murray, Ben Thornton, Luke Jordan, Matthew Leonard and Niall Feeney 0-0-1 each.
Westport: Killian Kilkelly 1-1-2 (1-0pen, 1tpf), Ben Holmes 1-0-2, Luke Tunney 1-0-0, Kevin Keane 0-1-1 (1tpf), Colm Moran 0-0-2, Conor Calvey, Jack O’Malley and Pat Lambert 0-0-1 each.
Ballina Stephenites: David Clarke; Luke Jordan, Liam Golden, Frank Irwin; Niall Feeney, David Tighe, Mikey Caden; Ben Thornton, Barry Walsh; Luke Feeney, Mike Murray, Sean Regan; Evan Regan, Conor Jordan, Matthew Jordan. Subs: Conor McStay (for Thornton temp 24-ht), Ciaran Treacy (for Regan 28), Patrick Carr (for Thornton ht), C McStay and Stephen Mullins (for Regan and Caden 46).
Westport: Paddy O’Malley; Ben Doyle, Niall McManamon, Brian McDermott; Tom lambert, Eoghan McLaughlin, Finbar McLaughlin; Conor Calvey, Jack O’Malley; Luke Tunney, Pat Lambert, Mark Moran; Ben Holmes, Killian Kilkelly, Kevin Keane. Subs: Michael McDonnell (for McDermott 10-inj), Colm Moran (for M Moran 21-inj), Danny Brennan (for McDonnell 44).
REF: Paul Lydon (Kiltimagh).
