Ballina’s first blip as Westport gain some revenge
Westport's Jack O'Malley competes for the breaking ball with a flying Luke Feeney of Ballina Stephenites during last Saturday evening's Mayo SFL Division 1 clash at St Patrick's Park. Pictures: Conor McKeown
One would be forgiven if the first meeting of Westport St Patrick’s and Ballina Stephenites since last year’s two classics in the Mayo senior championship final would fail to live up to hype. But anyone in attendance at a windy St Patrick’s Park last Saturday evening need not have worried.
That replay final defeat will have stung all connected to Westport and they started like a team with a point to prove against a team that had won all four of its opening games of this Division 1 season.
Killian Kilkelly popped over the opening free for Westport before Kevin Keane, from the right wing, converted the first two-pointer of the game. The Covies were only just warming up.
Patrick Carr, a free, opened the account for Ballina Stephenites, but the West Mayo men hit back with another sublime two-pointer, this time from former Mayo panellist Mark Moran.
Ten minutes into the game, Westport were dealt a blow when Luke Tunney was withdrawn due to a hamstring injury, and matters got worse when Ballina found the back of the home side’s net thanks to Sean Treacy, who got on the end of Patrick Carr’s handpass before finishing past Paddy O’Malley to reduce the gap to three, 0-7 to 1-1.
Westport would soon rediscover their groove. After the teams exchanged frees, Kevin Keane kicked his second two-pointer of the game and Finbar McLaughlin also got in the act with a stunning strike from outside the arc.
Westport’s consistent pressuring of the Ballina defence was beginning to tell, and the two-pointers kept coming from the 2022 Mayo senior champions, as Killian Kilkelly let fly from outside the arc to the delight of the home side.
Matthew Leonard stemmed the tide for the visitors with a point while at the other end, Kevin Keane missed a chance to raise a green flag as he saw his shot drag just wide, but he did raise a white flag from a free soon after.
Sean Treacy added a much-needed point before the break for Ballina, who would trail 0-13 to 1-4 at the break but could look forward to the wind being at their back for the second-half.
Treacy got Ballina’s first score after the restart, when combining with Conor Jordan, and the gap was soon cut to one point thanks to a pair of two-pointers by Ciaran Treacy and a Patrick Carr free.
As the nerves amongst supporters began to bubble to the surface, Westport steadied the ship thanks to efforts from Mark Moran and Killian Kilkelly, but the Stephenites responded with a two-pointer by substitute Conor Mayock.
As the game entered the final stages, scores were at a premium. The impressive Patrick Carr nailed a ’45 after substitute Danny Brennan had pointed for Westport, but Westport would make sure of the points in added time thanks to corner-forward Colm Moran.
The win puts Westport a point clear at the top of Division 1, and they are on the road next Saturday as they visit Garrymore. Ballina Stephenites, meanwhile, take on Belmullet.
Scorers – Westport: Kevin Keane 0-2-3, Killian Kilkelly 0-1-3 (1f), Finbarr McLaughlin and Mark Moran 0-1-0 each, Colm Moran and Danny Brennan 0-1 each.
Ballina Stephenites: Sean Treacy 1-0-2, Ciaran Treacy 0-2-0, Patrick Carr 0-4 (1f, 1 ’45), Conor Mayock 0-1-0, Matthew Leonard 0-1.
Westport: Paddy O’Malley; Luke Tunney, Tom Lambert, Brian McDermott; Tim Campion, Finbarr McLaughlin, Joe Grady; Brian O’Malley, Jack O’Malley; Pat Lambert, Mark Moran, Lorcan Silke; Colm Moran, Kevin Keane, Killian Kilkelly. Subs used: Danny Brennan, Peter McGowan, D. Hoban, Ben Holmes.
Ballina Stephenites: Eoghan Coleman; James Doherty, Luke Jordan, Michael Caden; Brendan Collins, Ciaran Boland, Mikey Murray; Luke Feeney, Conor Jordan; Ciaran Treacy, Oisin McCann, Matthew Leonard; Patrick Carr, Sean Treacy, Stephen Mullins. Sub used: Conor Mayock.
REF: John Glavey (Aghamore)
