Ballina back from the brink to earn Mayo final replay
David Tighe of Ballina Stephenites after drawing in the Mayo County Senior Club Football Championship final. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
A packed stand in Castlebar squinting into the autumn sun and a finale that swayed one way, then the other. In the last few minutes there was a goal, a black card, two-pointers from nowhere, a last-gasp free and finally, a draw. Where else would you rather be?
Ballina Stephenites’ drive for a three-in-a-row survives, Frank Irwin’s nerveless two-point free in stoppage time dragging them back from the brink and forcing a replay. This was their fourth successive final and by far the most gripping, in another advertisement for what football can now look like.
It wouldn’t be accurate to describe it as a classic. The first half was lukewarm at times. Nor was it one of those games that muddled along until a dramatic conclusion salvaged it. There was more than enough throughout to keep a sizeable crowd captivated.
Which is what the now-permanent new rules sought to deliver. Lift the ceiling on box-office bouts and raise the floor on tension-filled slugfests. This showdown was a good day out. That’s all we can ask.
Westport were on the verge of a knockout early on after a disastrous start. After 20 minutes, they were down 0-9 to 0-1 against the defending champions. Ballina captain Evan Regan swung over a two-pointer from the throw-in. They were dominant at midfield on long kickouts and turned over a scurrying full-back line when Westport went short. Mike Murray evidently saw the effect orange flags had on the 7,989 attendance and offered another.
Nothing clicked at the other end. Eoghan McLaughlin made one break for goal, but his blasted effort was saved by David Clarke and carried up the other end for another point.
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.
“It’s a hip,” said Ballina manager Niall Heffernan of O’Hora, who left on crutches. “I didn’t see what happened between himself and Lee, so I was shocked. But it is his hip, it has to be a serious injury for Padraig to go off. He is like that wall there.
“Hopefully he will make a miraculous recovery. The injury, we had great momentum until then. That delay took away some of our momentum.”
By half-time, Westport had recovered to make it 0-9 to 0-5. A Finnbar McLaughlin burst sparked their revival. That proved to be a powerful recipe, one surge feeding another. They began to thrive on their own energy.
McLaughlin scored again at the start of the second half. They briefly fell four behind only to roar three clear as the blue wave rolled. Substitutes Kevin Keane, Joe Grady and Pat Lambert all scored shortly after their introduction. Finnbar McLaughlin produced an immense shot from outside the arc to draw level and stole the next kickout to earn a two-point free. Kevin Kilkelly slotted it and kicked a terrific kick inside for Tom Lambert to land their fourth point from the bench.
A dangerous Murray ball was punched into the net by Regan in response. Luke Doherty managed to regain their lead. It was then that corner-back Brian McDermott kicked his first score of the championship, a sensational two to turn the dial again. Kilkelly kicked his fourth. Irwin stood tall and nailed his clutch free.
It wasn’t just the two-pointers that kept everyone hooked.
The contest was helped by the fact referee Paul Lydon allowed a healthy measure of physicality. There were only 21 frees awarded in total. He handled it sensibly, dishing out two yellows for an off-the-ball incident in the first half and flashing a black card to Ballina’s Niall Feeney with seven minutes remaining for a deliberate pull down.
In the end, the sun’s low glare ensured the man with the best view of the final kick was Irwin himself. He reacted first, wheeling away with a raised fist. The clubs will return next Saturday for a replay. The rest wandered off content, with enough storylines to chew over for the week. “That is what you want in a county final,” said Heffernan.
“We spoke after we beat Breaffy in a county final a few years ago, it was a dreadful game. I’m glad you are here to see what Mayo football can really do. It was good to see. I think it was a good game. Good scores, good running, hard tackling. Everyone who watched this game got value for their money.”
: E. Regan 1-6 (1 tp, 1tpf, 1f); F. Irwin 0-3 (1tpf); 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 ( 1tpf, 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. Thorton 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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