To win just once was never enough for Ballina

I know how Knockmore are feeling. A non-performance on the big day is as disappointing as it gets. A convincing loss without even raising a gallop. Not doing yourselves justice when it matters most. A lifetime of regrets.

On Saturday, Oranmore-Maree and Knockmore footballers were kindred spirits. We ‘only’ lost a county intermediate semi-final but, like Knockmore, never got going. Again, like Knockmore, we had huge expectations, belief and excitement but our big days both turned into the dampest of squibs. Second to every ball, physically dominated around the park, impotent in attack, well and truly beaten by the better team.

That’s our losing story but, of course, history is written by the victors and Ballina Stephenites and St Michael’s, our vanquishers, will have their own more glorious tale to tell. Credit to both sides, they were excellent in victory. All their big players stood up and they did a marvellous job of nullifying ours and Knockmore’s biggest threats.

Ballina’s biggest player, Swanee O’Hora, was once again magnificent. I’m not sure there is a braver player in Ireland. There was zero sign of any ill-effects from his quarter-final concussion three weeks ago. He was willing to put his pony-tailed noggin into tackles when others thought the wiser of it. Even the most grizzled and gnarled Knockmore backs admired his tenacity. He is the turnover king and I’m not sure why he hasn’t gotten any sort of a run for Mayo at 6. He hasn’t really the dancing feet, sharp turn or burst needed for corner-back but that seems to be where he has played most of his football for Mayo in the last few years.

David Clarke was as safe as houses again and at 40 looks in the exact same tiptop shape he has always done. He is probably the best trainer I have ever played with though and the signs are on him. He’s always been an understated guy so it was great to see him lift the Moclair Cup with Sam Callinan on Saturday. Usually unflappable, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him as excited post-match, whooping and hollering in the wild celebrations and good luck to him. He has been on the other side of so many finals so it is wonderful to see him get his just desserts this late in his career.

Their other talisman, Evan Regan, scored a beauty of a goal on Mayo’s current number 1. To take the shot on so early and finish with such precision from that distance marked it as a very special and aesthetically pleasing finish. Like St Michael’s in our own game, Ballina had not a single poor performer. Callinan did a job on Aiden Orme, Mikey Murray and Frank Irwin controlled the middle and Conor McStay had another nice game and has had a fine championship. Some newer, lesser lights that I wouldn’t have been as familiar with up to recently such as Liam Golden and Luke Jordan also looked at home at this level.

The Stephenites have developed a serious squad. They’ll be thrilled to go back-to-back and win this season’s championship in such style given the vitriol that greeted last year’s county final success. 2023 was a bad championship so I think some of us maybe felt that Ballina were the best of a bad lot. Damning with faint praise and all that. This year’s impressive campaign by Niall Heffernan’s talented squad franks Ballina’s legacy as a top team. Given their age profile and the development of their talent pool, they’ll probably go all guns out for three-in-a-row too, just to really shove it up us!

That’s for next year though and they have bigger fish to fry in the immediate future. They gave it a decent whack but they looked a little green in coming up short against Corofin in Pearse Stadium last November. I think they’ll be more ready for a proper assault on Connacht this time around. What’s helpful is that they’re on the opposite side of the draw to Corofin and Pearses. A Connacht Final appearance should be the minimum they look to achieve in the province this year. If and when they successfully negotiate matches against the London and Sligo champions, they should be in good shape for the Connacht decider.

I didn’t get to see the junior finale as it clashed with our own match but, by all accounts, an unfancied Bonniconlon put in a great shift and were unlucky not to clinch it. Cill Chomáin are struggling to fall over the line in junior so I give the physically strong and experienced Bonni’ side a big shout in the replay.

ROCKY ROVERS

With all the attacking quality on display, the intermediate final was one I was looking forward to for a while. In difficult conditions, it didn’t disappoint. I was hoping I’d be watching the game in a scouting capacity, with the potential of playing the winners in a Connacht semi-final in a few weeks’ time. But, alas, I watched it with no skin in the game and was impressed with the quality of score-taking.

In Galway, Glenamaddy scored a goal after eight seconds against Caltra in the other intermediate semi-final on Saturday. That was almost matched by Niall Coggins’ major after 13 seconds in MacHale Park on Sunday. It was a cracking finish after a blistering run. It certainly rivalled Kevin Quinn’s wondergoal in last year’s corresponding fixture and we have been blessed to see such beauty in the last few finals.

Deel Rovers will be kicking themselves though that they did not seal the deal on Sunday. They were the better team throughout. They defended stoutly and got some beautiful scores from the boots of James Maheady, Jordan Flynn and Fionán Duffy. They were five up and a man up with five minutes left but they just couldn’t see it out.

Moy Davitts much vaunted attack didn’t really fire but they kept at it and Cian McHale’s frees and a few bombs from play always kept them in touch. McHale is an interesting prospect. There aren’t too many similar players in Mayo so I’m sure he is on Kevin McStay’s radar. He is young, of good size and, most importantly, can kick points regularly from distance. He could be a revelation with the new two-point scoring arc. He is also a very accomplished, left-footed free taker from the right – something we haven’t had the luxury of for over a decade.

Moy Davitts will be delighted to have come out alive and get a second chance. That is twice now in this campaign that they have made miraculous comebacks against Cross’ when they looked dead and buried. Maybe they’re in their heads at this stage and that’s why I think they’ll win the replay. It promises to be another cracker.

As our season disappointingly draws to a close, I had a lump in my throat watching all the clips on social media of the concluding moments of county finals across the country. There were so many magical stories – Doon in Limerick, Newbridge in Derry, Thomastown in Kilkenny. Every player and club should experience scenes like that at least once in their lives.

Back in Mayo, after last weekend’s excitement and draws, we’re fortunate to have County Final weekend, part deux, to look forward to again this week. Last weekend, however, belonged to Ballina Stephenites – no longer just a good team, but now a very good one.