Ballina and Westport have to do it all over again for Mayo senior supremacy

The Connacht Gold Mayo Senior Football Championship is going to a replay following a draw in today's final at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, where it finished Ballina Stephenites 1-15, Westport 0-18, writes Brian Gillespie.

Ballina enjoyed a whirlwind start and were seven points up after 11 minutes, two-pointers from Evan Regan (free) and Mike Murray helping them into that big lead.

Wesptort steadied the ship with a point from Lee Keegan on 12 minutes but the former Mayo man picked up an injury in the process, as did the Stephenites' Padraig O'Hora as he attempted to block the shot.

While Ballina stretched the lead with another two-pointer from Regan, their captain, Westport enjoyed a strong finish to the half, scoring four of the last five points to leave it 0-9 to 0-5 at the break.

Ballina were left to rue a glorious chance late in the half when David Tighe benefited from a fumble by Eoghan McLaughlin. After spinning his marker, Tighe shot high and the ball went wide off the upright with the goal at his mercy.

Regan also opted to go for a two-pointer when Westport breached the 4/3 rule just before the break when a simple tap over in front of the posts would have left Ballina five points ahead.

Early in the new half Paddy O'Malley similarly went for a two-pointer as Ballina breached but, likewise, he missed the target.

It could have been worse for the west Mayo men as Luke Doherty missed a glorious chance just three minutes into the second half, blasting over the bar with all the goal to aim at.

But Westport were firmly in this match by now, especially after that let-off, and their incessant pressure on the Stephenites rearguard resulted in plenty of opportunities – and they started to take many of them.

Ben Doyle roamed forward for a goal chance but David Clarke reacted smartly in the Ballina goal to divert the ball over the bar.

The Covies were inching closer though as the Stephenites' scores dried up, and with eight minutes to go they were level thanks to a wonderful two-point effort by Finbarr McLaughlin.

They seemed to be the team with the momentum now and, aided by a black card for Ballina's Niall Feeney, they went ahead for the first time in the game on 54 minutes courtesy of a two-point free by Killian Kilkelly. As Ballina hunted for scores they left gaps at the back, and Tom Labert punished one such laspe to put Westport three ahead.

But just when it looked as though the game was slipping away from them, the defending champions rallied. Mikie Murray, a tireless worker, advanced down the left and launched a ball into the danger area, where Regan pounced ahead of Paddy O'Malley to put the ball in the net.

Now level, they took the lead in the final minute of normal time when Luke Doherty popped the ball over the bar.

If they thought that would settle the issue, they were wrong. Westport corner-back Brian McDermott scored a tremendous two-pointer from the right-hand side at the An Sportlann end, and now they were back in front, stretching the lead through Killian Kilkelly moments later.

The pressure was on and the champions responded. David Tighe, a big presence in this game, won a free outside the arc and Frank Irwin stepped up to the plate, placing the ball down and confidently stroking it between the posts and over the bar with the four minutes of added time up. The kick-out heralded the final blow of referee Paul Lydon's whistle, and the two teams must go to battle again at the same venue next Saturday.

Ballina Stephenites: David Clarke; Liam Golden, Luke Jordan, Ciaran Boland; Sam Callinan, Padraig O'Hora, David Tighe; Mike Murray (0-2tp), Frank Irwin (0-3, 1tpf); Dylan Thornton, Conor McStay (0-1), Niall Feeney; Evan Regan (1-6, 1tpf, 1tp), Jack Irwin (0-1), Luke Doherty (0-2).

Subs used: Ciaran Treacy, Luke Feeney, Ben Thornton, Sean Regan.

Westport: Paddy O'Malley; Ben Doyle (0-1), Niall McManamon, Brian McDermott (0-2tp); Conal Dawson (0-1f), Eoghan McLaughlin, Finbarr McLaughlin (0-4, 1tp); Rory Brickenden (0-1), Lee Keegan (0-1); Luke Tunney, Joey Holmes, Brian O'Malley; Lorcan Silke, Killian Kilkelly (0-4, 1tpf, 1f), Colm Moran.

Subs used: Joe Grady (0-1), Kevin Keane (0-1), Pat Lambert (0-1), Tom Lambert (0-1).

Referee: Paul Lydon (Kiltimagh).

*See Tuesday's print edition of The Connaught Telegraph for a comprehensive report and reaction