Ballina back in Mayo county senior football final
The three-in-a-row for Ballina Stephenites remains on the cards as the defending champions eased past a Knockmore side who flattered to deceive, winning by 1-12 to 0-8 in Crossmolina, writes John Melvin.
Played in ideal conditions in St. Tiernan's Park, Crossmolina, the Stephenites built the platform for victory in this Connacht Gold Senior Football Championship semi-final around the middle of the field, where they won all the breaking ball.
A masterful display from Frank Irwin was another key factor in shaping Ballina’s victory.
In truth, Knockmore never really got into this game but credit for that has to go to Ballina’s keep-ball tactics, their opponents getting more and more frustrated as the match wore on.
Knockmore’s lack of scoring power was well flagged ahead of this game and after 23 minutes it was reflected in the state of play, Ballina leading 0-6 to 0-1, Conor McStay nailing his side's two opening points form play, Evan Regan with back-to-back frees, Niall Feeney also scoring back-to-back points from play, Knockmore’s only response coming from Pearse Rutledge effort from play.
Ballina, despite all their possession, still left the door ajar for Knockmore as they were ahead by only 0-6 to 0-2 at the break, but the gap should have been wider, the Stephenites off target with a number of long-range efforts.
With Darren McHale struggling with an injury, it came as no surprise when the ace Knockmore forward was withdrawn early in the second half, while Kevin McLoughlin and Caolan Hopkins were drafted in.
Knockmore needed to get stuck into this game after the break to have any hope of leaving their mark but it was Ballina who applied the early pressure, scoring 1-2 without reply, the goal coming directly from a poor kick-out from Knockmore goalkeeper Colm Reape. It was picked up by McStay who set up Luke Doherty for a stunning finish from 15 yards into the bottom corner less than five minutes of the restart, Padraig O’Hora then reacting the quickest to fist over an Irwin free that came back of the post, Regan making it 1-8 to 0-2 with another free.
Pearse Ruttledge, Hopkins and Liam Durkan picked off three unanswered points for Knockmore but Regan (free), Mikey Murray, with a fine score, and Frank Irwin, with a cracking efforthad Ballina well on their way to victory with 15 minutes remaining, despite a superb two-pointer from Aiden Orme, the game really fizzling out well before the end.
The final will be a repeat of the 2022 decider following Westport's victory over Crossmolina in the other semi-final. Westport won the final that year but the Stephenites recovered to take the title in 2023 and 2024.
Scorers
Ballina Stephenites: E. Regan (0-4f), L. Doherty (1-0), F. Irwin, N. Feeney, C. McStay (0-2 each), P. O'Hora, M. Murray (0-1 each).
Knockmore: A. Orme (0-2tpf), P. Ruttledge (0-2), D. Coleman, C. Hopkins, S. Holmes, L. Durkan (0-1 each).
*See Tuesday's print edition for a comprehensive report on the match