Westport recover from disastrous start as Mayo final ends all level
DOUBLE TEAM: Westport's Eoghan McLaughlin comes up against David Tighe and Jack Irwin of Ballina Stephenites. Pic: INPHO/Dan Clohessy
Strap in. A last-gasp free from Frank Irwin saw Ballina Stephenites snatch a draw in the Mayo SFC final in front of a captivated crowd at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park.
Niall Heffernan’s three-in-a-row-seeking side fought back twice down the stretch. They were three down when Evan Regan punched in a goal from a dropping Mike Murray ball.
Luke Doherty pushed them one clear, but Brian McDermott replied with a corker of a two-pointer. Killian Kilkelly added his fourth of the afternoon before Irwin’s last stand.
The kernel of county finals is that they guarantee thrills and torture in equal measure. As big-day beginnings go, Westport’s was completely disastrous.
After 20 minutes, they were down by 0-9 to 0-1 against the defending champions. Their only point came from county star Lee Keegan, who was injured in the process. A brutal clash after the ball left his boot saw the final paused for a lengthy duration. Former Mayo defender Padraig O’Hora was on the other end. They were both eventually assisted off the field.
Captain Evan Regan swung over a two-pointer from the throw-in and added another two points before the turnaround. Mike Murray produced another orange flag soon after. Frank Irwin and Jack Irwin also scored.
Nothing was going right for Westport. Eoghan McLaughlin broke in on goal yet his blasted shot was saved by David Clarke. From the rebound, Ballina took off and scored. A burst from Finnbar McLaughlin finally offered a welcome reprieve. Substitute Joe Grady followed it up to ignite a run of four points in a row.
Suddenly, they were surging forward in a blue wave. Finnbar McLaughlin unleashed a bomb from outside the arc to draw level. Niall Feeney picked up a black card for a pull-down. A Kilkelly free and a point from substitute Tom Lambert looked destined to deliver their second-ever county crown.
Now they must do it all again in six days’ time.
: E. Regan 1-6 (1 tp, 1 tpf, 1f); F. Irwin 0-3 (1 tpf); M. Murray 0-2 (tp); L. Doherty 0-2; J. Irwin, C. McStay 0-1 each.
F. McLaughlin 0-4 (1 tp); K. Kilkelly 0-4 (1 tpf, 1f); B. McDermott 0-2 (tp); L. Keegan, J. Grady, R. Brickenden, C. Dawson (f), B. Doyle, K. Keane, P. Lambert, T. Lambert 0-1 each.
: D. Clarke; L. Golden, L. Jordan, C. Boland; S. Callinan, P. O’Hora, D. Tighe; M. Murray, F. Irwin; D. Thornton, C. McStay, N. Feeney; E. Regan, J. Irwin, L. Doherty.
Subs: C. Treacy for O’Hora (14 – inj); L. Feeney for Treacy (45); B. Thornton for Irwin (58); S. Regan for Boland (60).
Black card: N. Feeney (53).
: O. O’Malley; B. Doyle, N. McManamon, B. McDermott; L. Silke, E. McLaughlin, F. McLaughlin; R. Brickenden, L. Keegan; C. Dawson, J. Holmes, B. O’Malley; L. Tunney, K. Kilkelly, C. Moran.
Subs: J. Grady for Keegan (14 – inj); K. Keane for Silke (38); P. Lambert for Moran (47); T. Lambert for Tunney (54).
: P. Lydon (Aghamore).
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