Ballina Stephenites topple Mayo Gaels with ten to spare

Mayo Senior Football Championship Round 2

Ballina Stephenites 2-17 Mayo Gaels 1-10

Oisín McGovern in James Stephens Park

A scorching first half display in the searing September sun saw Ballina Stephenites all but guarantee a place in the championship quarter-finals after securing a handsome win over Mayo Gaels.

The hosts shot 1-9 without reply from six unique players to leave the Gaels reeling and the game all but put to bed by half-time.

Former Mayo senior panellist Evan Regan led the way in the scoring stakes with 1-5 (3 frees), trailed by Frank Irwin, Mikey Murray, Conor McStay and Ciaran Treacy who struck 0-11 between them.

Trailing 1-11 to 0-4 at half-time, Mayo Gaels doubled their tally within 50 seconds of the restart when Ryan Connolly found the net before the impressive Ethan Henry followed up with a point.

Had they been able to replicate this throughout the game, the Gaels would have been victorious here.

Instead, without setting the world alight, Ballina pressed ahead in third gear and never looked like being caught.

Liam Golden, Sam Callinan and David Tighe were excellent for the Stephenites, who were handed a second goal on a plate when Paul Mannion kicked the ball straight out to Evan Regan, who made no mistake with his finish.

An air of inevitability hung over a second half where the Gaels kicked 1-6 but were in no danger of catching last year’s championship runners up.

A full report plus reaction from Padraig O'Hora and Niall Heffernan will be carried in Tuesday’s Mayo News