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07 Sept 2025
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07 Sept 2025
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Frank Irwin kicked five points as Ballina Stephenites defeated Garrymore. Pic: Sportsfile
THE three-in-a-row dream is still alive after Ballina Stephenites powered past Garrymore in Charlestown on Sunday evening. The reigning champions kicked the first four points of the game and were never headed despite a gallant effort from the South Mayo men, and the fact that the Moysiders didn't score after the seventh minute of the second half.
Four points on the spin from Darren Quinn left Garrymore just a point adrift after 21 minutes but Ballina pulled clear again when Mikey Murray and excellent full-back Luke Jordan raised white flags, and midfielder Frank Irwin kicked a singe and then added a two-pointer from distance.
That left the champions five clear before exciting young Garrymore prospect Eoin McGreal closed the gap to four at the interval, as the Stephenites led 0-12 to 0-8.
Garrymore would have the wind on their backs in the second half and were in with a real chance when the ball was thrown in again by referee Ronan Gurren.
However, Evan Regan was having none of that and the talented corner-forward kicked a brace of two-point frees early in the new half. That left the Green and Red eight points clear and almost out of reach after 37 minutes, but amazingly, they wouldn't score again.
Garrymore tried to get back into it with Cathal Slattery continuing his impressive display in the middle, but the men in red rarely looked like getting through for a goal to fire up their challenge.
Scoring chances were rare, but points from Andrew Glennon and Quinn cut the gap to six going into the last ten minutes.
However, Ballina with Jordan outstanding at full-back never looked like being overhauled.
Two minutes from the end, Glennon had a half-chance of a goal but fired his shot over the bar. Then, in the last play of the day, Mark Gibbons converted a two-point free for Garrymore to leave just three between them, but that was the end of the affair and Ballina advanced to the quarter-finals.
A full match report and reaction will be carried in Tuesday's Mayo News.
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