Three off as Ballina return to final with win over Knockmore

Ballina Stephenites Sam Callanan in action against Knockmore’s Aidan Orme during the Mayo SFC semi-final at St. Tiernan’s Park, Crossmolina, last Sunday. Picture: David Farrell Photography

Mayo SFC semi-final: Ballina Stephenites 0-10 Knockmore 0-7 

LAST year’s beaten finalists Ballina Stephenites qualified for a second Mayo SFC final in succession after battling past their North Mayo neighbours in Crossmolina on Sunday afternoon.

The Stephenites had to grind out a hard-fought win in a tough game which saw three players being sent off by referee Jerome Henry.

Knockmore finished with 13 men after goalkeeper Colm Reape and Adam Naughton were both dismissed in the closing stages while Ballina’s Jack Irwin also received his marching orders in the same incident.

The first half was a dour struggle with both sides soaking up pressure and looking to edge their way in front.

Ballina had a lot of possession in the opening 20 minutes but found scores hard to come by. Teenage full-forward Luke Feeney was catching the eye for the Stephenites but they ended the half with just two points to their name, a mark from Feeney and a free courtesy of Evan Regan.

Knockmore played their way into the game and found themselves in front at the interval. Liam Durkan, impressive defender Aaron Timlin and Aiden Orme saw them leave the field with a 0-3 to 0-2 advantage, but it could have been more comfortable for the 2020 and 2021 champions.

After 19 minutes a flowing Knockmore move sent Peter Naughton through on goal but former Mayo goalkeeper David Clarke pulled off a great save.

The rebound was forced towards the net, but Dylan Thornton got back to keep it out.

The second half saw slightly more space open up as Ballina ran at the Knockmore men when opportunities arose.

Two pointed frees from Regan and a reply from Darren McHale left the scores tied after 42 minutes but the Stephenites were beginning to get on top around the middle.

Two points in a minute courtesy of Thornton and Regan suddenly put daylight between the teams and asked questions of Knockmore.

They responded with great conviction, and when Aiden Orme and Peter Naughton raised white flags there was nothing between them again.

However, Ballina refused to be overtaken and once again they swarmed forward for Evan Regan to knock over a free and Conor McStay to land a point from distance. Ciaran Treacy stretched the lead to three after 58 minutes but amazingly there were still 12 minutes to be played.

Naughton kicked a free to cut the gap to two, but when Regan converted over a free two minutes into injury-time, Knockmore needed a goal to stay alive.

They went in search of it and laid siege to the Ballina posts in the closing minutes. Aidan Orme drove a free into a sea of bodies in front of the goal and Colm Reape’s follow-up effort was also swallowed up by a green and red wall before some pushing and shoving broke out.

When things settled three red cards were handed out — two to Knockmore, Reape and Adam Naughton and one to Ballina’s, Jack Irwin.

Moments later, the final whistle sounded and Ballina were back in their second final in 12 months as they attempt to win a first Moclair Cup since 2007.

Ballina Stephenites: D Clarke; L Golden, G Cafferkey, P O’Hora; C Boland, S Callinan, D Durcan; F Irwin, D Thornton (0-1); N Feeney, M Birrane, J Irwin; E Regan (0-6, 4fs, 1 mark), L Feeney (0-1, mark), C McStay (0-1).

Subs used: C Treacy (0-1) for Birrane; S Regan for Thornton; A Doherty for N Feeney.

Knockmore: C Reape; M Park, A Timlin (0-1), A Battle; L Durkan (0-1), D McHale, K King; K McLoughlin, S McHale; P Ruttledge, D McHale (0-1), C Dempsey; A Orme (0-2, 2fs), P Naughton (0-2, 2fs), O Armstrong.

Subs used: K Ruttledge for Armstrong; A Naughton for S McHale; C Hopkins for Durkan; S Holmes for David McHale.

Referee: J Henry (Castlebar Mitchels)