Oct 27,2024
Ballina Stephenites 1-12 Knockmore 0-08
Ballina Stephenites defended their Mayo SFC title impressively as they cruised to a comfortable victory over their neighbours at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park on Saturday evening.
An early goal from former Mayo attacker Evan Regan set the Stephenites on their way to a 38th Mayo senior crown and they never looked like being beaten from there to the end.
Knockmore badly missed the suspended Pearse Ruttledge and never got going while Ballina were boosted by the return from injury of both Padraig O'Hora and Mikey Murray.
O’Hora produced a player of the match performance despite being forced to leave the field for a spell during the second half due to injury.
Knockmore’s dreams of winning a third Moclair Cup in the space of five seasons were dashed by their near-neighbours.
This defeat was a repeat of the result of the decider two decades earlier when Ballina also came out on top in the local derby.
Niall Heffernan’s Stephenites team dominated the opening half and they deservedly led by 1-06 to 0-03 at the interval.
Their goal arrived on nine minutes from Evan Regan who struck a brilliant shot past Mayo netminder Colm Reape to leave the champions ahead by 1-02 to 0-00.
Early frees from Frank Irwin and Regan had eased them ahead and the early goal gave them a cushion that they never relinquished.
Caolan Hopkins opened Knockmore’s account on 11 minutes but they were always chasing their rivals despite good scores from Keith Ruttledge and Aidan Orme.
Sam Callinan, Evan Regan (free), Seán Regan and Frank Irwin (free) all hit the target to put the holders in a commanding position at the halfway mark.
Ballina continued to press home their advantage after the restart as scores from Conor McStay and Mikey Murray left Knockmore with a mountain to climb.
Another string of points from Frank Irwin (free), McStay and Niall Feeney left the Stephenites ten points clear heading into the final quarter and the argument had long been settled.
Knockmore, to their credit, never threw in the towel and they finished strongly, scoring four of the last five points from Aidan Orme (3, including one from play) and a free from Caolan Hopkins.
But Ballina had done the hard work by that stage and they freewheeled to victory with Niall Heffernan running his bench while joint captain, David Clarke, also pulled off a fine save.
The victory consolidates Ballina’s position as the most successful club in Mayo.
However, this was only the second time in almost 100 years that the Stephenites had retained the county senior title.
Ballina’s remarkable consistency over the last three seasons is underlined by the fact that they were contesting their third successive senior decider and have only lost one championship game in that time.
In fact, Niall Heffernan’s charges have won 17 of their last 18 matches in the competition.
Ballina will now face the London champions in the Connacht club championship in two weeks’ time.
Ballina Stephenites: D Clarke; L Golden, P O’Hora, D Tighe; S Regan (0-1), S Callinan (0-1), L Jordan; M Murray (0-1), F Irwin (0-3, 3fs); L Doherty, C McStay (0-2), N Feeney (0-1); E Regan (1-2, 2fs), L Feeney, B Collins.
Subs: C Boland for S Regan (inj, HT); C Treacy for O’Hora (BS); D Thornton for Doherty; C Sweeney for L Golden; P O’Hora for Treacy (BS); C Treacy for N Feeney.
Knockmore: C Reape; D McHale, K King, A Battle; N Armstrong, C Flynn, S Holmes; C Dempsey, K McLoughlin; O Armstrong, D McHale, K Ruttledge (0-1); L Durcan, A Orme (0-3, 2fs), C Hopkins (0-2, 1f).
Subs used: B Ruane for Flynn; A Naughton for Dempsey; C Bourke for Durcan; P Naughton for Armstrong; D Staunton for Ruttledge.
Referee: J Henry (Castlebar Mitchels)
