Stephenites power past Knockmore to seal place in county final

MAYO SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINAL

Ballina Stephenites 1-12

Knockmore 0-8

In Crossmolina

THE three-in-a-row is within reach after the Stephenites steamrolled Knockmore in St Tiernan's Park this afternoon.

The scoreline is kind to Knockmore who never really laid a glove on the champions, and the result was decided long before the end.

Ballina dominated matters in the middle of the field and had almost complete control of the kick-out war with Man of the Match Frank Irwin in outstanding form. The sharp-shooting midfielder ruled the skies, linked play smartly and kicked two points in a display that will surely have delighted the watching Mayo manager Andy Moran.

Ballina dominated much of the opening half but were just four points clear, 0-6 to 0-2, at the interval. Conor McStay was lively in the Stephenites attack while Niall Feeney also caught the eye. At the back, Liam Golden was winning ball out in front while the hunger of the Ballina men to gobble up breaking ball in the middle left Knockmore with very little possession.

Knockmore needed a good start to the second half to have any chance, but the Stephenites sealed the deal in the four minutes directly after the resumption.

Points from Padraig O'Hora and Evan Regan and a goal courtesy of Luke Jordan left them all but in next Sunday's county final.

Knockmore, to their credit, never stopped trying, but apart from defenders Adam Naughton and Sean Holmes, they had little personal success and collectively they were a long way off the county champions.

Aiden Orme did raise a Knockmore cheer after 49 minutes with a two-pointer from out on the right, but there was no stopping Ballina and it was fitting that their two midfielders, Irwin and Mike Murray, kicked their last two points after dominating matters all afternoon.

A full match report and reaction will be carried in Tuesday's Mayo News.