Regan leads Ballina resurrection in epic Mayo SFC final replay

Replays seldom live up to the drama and excitement of the drawn game but this re-enactment of the battle between Ballina and Westport for the Moclair Cup just six days ago, when they couldn’t be separated, is an exception. It didn’t match the drawn game; it simply surpassed it in spectacular fashion, Ballina winning on a scoreline of 2-13 to 1-15, writes John Melvin.

Frank Irwin’s two-pointer from an injury-time free last week earned Ballina a reprieve and there was a sense that Westport may have missed the boat, but that seemed unlikely when they led by 10 points (1-14 to 0-7) with 10 minutes remaining.

What happened in the last 10 minutes of normal time plus four minutes of injury time will enter the annals of GAA folklore as Ballina came back with goals from Evan Regan and Dylan Thornton to give them a glimmer of hope – and there was more drama to come in injury time.

Ballina, the defending champions, still trailed by two points on 61 minutes, Evan Regan stepping up with another amazing two-pointer, and then the same player followed up with the last kick of the match to score the point which sealed the Stephenites' three-in-a-row, leaving Westport stunned as to how they lost a game they appeared to have in the bag.

The midfield battle, which was won by Ballina in the drawn encounter, was controlled by Westport in this replay, and a key man in that regard was Mark Moran, who had massive first half having been named on the starting side instead of the injured Lee Keegan.

Ballina had to work hard for every scrap but it was Westport who were up for this from the start, scoring a goal inside 15 seconds by Finbar McLaughin after he was was set up by his brother Eoghan.

Conceding an early goal was bad enough but when Westport produced a two-pointer from a Paddy O’Malley free, it was clear the Stephenites ship was taking water early on.

As usual, Evan Regan rose to the occasion with a superb two-pointer to announce his and Ballina’s arrival, Mike Murray following with a point from play, and suddenly it seemed as though Ballina had adjusted to the pace being set by Westport.

However, Joey Holmes, son of manager Pat, was to have a huge impact as he picked off three fine points from play. Killian Kilkelly nailed back-to-back frees while Mark Moran, who was outstanding in that first half, scored a brilliant point on his left foot.

Ballina were just about breathing as Westport were tackling in packs. Frank Irwin and Padraig O’Hora pulled back two points for Ballina but the half ended as it began - full of drama. A two-pointer from Rory Brickenden just before the half-time whistle leaf the defending champions trailing by seven at the break, Westport in control with a 1-10 to 0-6 lead.

Westport were still in control when they led by by 10 points on 50 minutes, but then came that Ballina tsunami, the fuse lit by Regan firing a bullet from a quick free into the net. Thornton added a second goal when he pounced on a bouncing ball in the Westport area.

Irwin and Conor McStay, with points from play, and a Regan free had it back to a two-point game (1-15 to 2-10) when Regan then landed that amazing two-pointer from play followed by a single point to win the game - and the championship.

The stuff of dreams for the winners. The stuff of nightmares for the losers.

*See Tuesday's print edition for a full report and reaction