Stephenites are champions after greatest comeback in the history of Mayo GAA

WHEN James Wallace Melvin and his friends gathered at the top of Convent Hill in Ballina on an August Saturday evening in 1886 and founded the famed GAA club which would go on to become Mayo's greatest, he surely never imagined anything like the mania played out in MacHale Park this afternoon.

Thirty-eight county titles, three Connacht crowns and one glorious All-Ireland had been won by the men in green and red before today, but this evening's display rivals anything that went before – even that famous day in Croke Park.

Today, the Moysiders were trying to win their third county title in succession and had come back from the dead six days ago to earn another shot at the title when Westport were on the edge of glory. However, as time ticked away in today's replay the Moclair Cup was again readying itself for a trip to the shores of Clew Bay as Westport enjoyed a ten-point lead after 48 minutes.

The Stephenites were on the ropes and Westport were 'rarin an tarin' into everything. The men in blue were winning more than their share of ball all over the pitch and looked odds-on to win only their second title.

They had started and finished the first half with pivotal scores - a goal from Finbar McLaughlin 16 seconds after throw-in and a two-pointer from Rory Brickenden four seconds from the half-time. They had built on that throughout the third quarter and although their leader Eoghan McLaughlin left the pitch injured with 13 minutes to play, they looked locked-in winners.

However, as Evan Regan stated later in the evening – 'You can never write off the Stephenites.' They somehow roused themselves from the ashes and the resurrection began when Regan drove a quick free to the net with nine minutes of normal time to be played. However, that might have been just the sting of a dying wasp as the gap between the teams still stood at seven points five minutes later.

Then, Frank Irwin's '45 was punched to the net by Dylan Thornton and maybe just maybe the great escape was possible. However, Westport soon stalled the revival when Killian Kilkelly popped over a free to push the lead out to five as injury time came over the horizon.

That's when the greatest five minutes in Stephenites history began. Frank Irwin kicked a point and as the roars from their supporters got louder Conor McStay added another and suddenly the gap was down to three with almost four minutes of injury time to be played.

The Stephenites belief system went into overdrive when Regan's free cut the gap to two and they looked to the heavens imploring all the Moyside saints for one precious two-pointer. Their prayers were answered in the 64^th minute when Regan landed a two-pointer from the left to balance the scores. The great comeback had lifted the Stephenites from the depths of despair and the roars could be heard back by Barney's Boreen and all the other lanes that grace the famous town on the Moy.

However, the Stephenites weren't finished. They had the scent of glory in their nostrils and went in search of title 39.

The kick-out was won – the ball was worked down the field – McStay got it to Regan – he stepped inside one tackle, rode another and sent the ball between the sticks to complete the resurrection.

Not even James Wallace Melvin could have penned a great ending than this.

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