Underdogs happy as Garry’ after shocking the champs
Garrymore’s Trevor Nally tries to dispossess Ballina Stephenites' Sean Regan. Picture: David Farrell Photography
A goal in the closing stages from Caolan Crowe proved decisive as the three-in-a-row county senior football champions were beaten on their own patch in their opening championship fixture of 2026.
Ballina Stephenites had been convincing winners over Garrymore when the sides met in Charlestown last season – and it’s 44 years since Garrymore last lifted the Moclair Cup – but the tables were turned dramatically here, with the visitors from South Mayo fully deserving of their victory.
It was a win inspired by county stars Enda Hession and Eoin McGreal, however, there were heroes all over the pitch for Garrymore who looked the better balanced of the sides. There’s no doubt Ballina were impacted greatly by the loss through injury in the second-half of Evan Regan who had scored all five of his side’s points at the time of his departure.
Both teams made a slow start to this game, with seven minutes on the clock before either side managed to make an impression on the scoreboard. Evan Regan finally broke the deadlock when he split the posts with a two pointer.
The visitors responded through Darren Quinn, who reduced the deficit ten minutes in, and Garrymore soon began to settle into the contest despite facing into the breeze.
With Dylan Thornton a notable absentee for the Stephenites, Garrymore were starting to gain the upper-hand around midfield and that pressure was reflected on the scoreboard shortly after the quarter-hour mark. Quinn added another before Trevor Nally followed suit as the visitors moved into the lead for the first time.
Ballina were struggling to gain a foothold in the middle third, with Garrymore winning a number of crucial breaks. One such turnover resulted in a fine two-point score from Andy Glennon, who showed great composure to split the posts from a dead ball with the outside of his boot from near the sideline Quinn was on target once again before the break, completing a productive opening half for the visitors who led 0-6 to 0-2.
Ballina Stephenites did manage to create some pressure as the interval approached and came close to finding a way through the Garrymore defence. However, the visitors stood firm, with some determined defending keeping the home side from finding the net, and Garrymore went into the dressing room with a four-point advantage at half-time.
The champions flew out of the blocks after the break with Evan Regan adding a dead ball point and another two-pointer from play. Quinn, however, replied by raising an orange flag himself, with the aid of the breeze, five minutes into the half.
Despite seeing Evan Regan hobble off, Ballina Stephenites did hit a purple patch as they pushed forward, with Niall Feeney and Frank Irwin pulling the tie back level midway through the half. In fact, it looked like all the momentum was with the Green and Red, but Darren Quinn had other ideas, with his free from the edge of the small arc restoring his side's lead, 0-9 to 0-8.
The resurgence from the home side was led by the midfielders as Mikey Murray levelled the tie with twelve minutes to go from a narrow angle.
With the game right in the melting pot, up stepped Liam Óg Horkan to slot a fine effort over off his left. Moments later, Quinn played a pass from the wing into Crowe, who buried the ball past the onrushing David Clake.
This didn't stop the county champions and efforts from Luke Feeney and substitute Patrick Carr left just a score between them. However, the insurance score in this tie came from Eoin McGreal as he drove forward from wing-back to ensure victory for his side.
Scorers – Garrymore: Darren Quinn 0-0-6, Caolan Crowe 1-0-0, Andy Glennon 0-1-0 (1tpf), Trevor Nally 0-0-2, Liam Óg Horkan and Eoin McGreal 0-0-1 each.
Ballina Stephenites: Evan Regan 0-1-3 (1tpf), Frank Irwin 0-0-2, Mikey Murray, Niall Feeney, Luke Feeney and Patrick Carr 0-0-1 each.
Ballina Stephenites: David Clarke; Liam Golden, Luke Jordan, David Tighe; Sam Callinan, Sean Regan, Barry Walsh; Mikey Murray, Frank Irwin; Luke Feeney, Ben Thornton, Niall Feeney; Evan Regan, Brendan Collins, Matthew Leonard. Subs: Conor McStay (for Leonard), Ciaran Boland (for S Regan), Ciaran Treacy (for E Regan), Patrick Carr (for Collins).
Garrymore: Brian Lynskey; Enda Hession, Jamie Oates, Justin Commins, Patrick Hession, Liam Óg Horkan, Eoin McGreal; Gary Golden, David Dolan; Darren Quinn, Andy Glennon, Shane Nally; Michael Connolly, Trevor Nally, Caolan Crowe. Subs: Jamie Hession (for S Nally), Colin Commins (for Dolan), Aaron Hughes (for Commins).
REF: Jerome Henry (Castlebar Mitchels)
