Stephenites overpower Exiles to set up Corofin clash

Connacht SFC Quarter Final

Ballina Stephenites 3-11

Fulham Irish 0-5

Michael Gallagher

Castlebar

There was a slight nervousness in Ballina ranks before this counter began but any thoughts of an upset were well and truly banished in a dry but cold Hastings Insurance MacHale Park on Saturday night.

The Stephenites lined out without injured duo Padraic O’Hora and Dylan Thornton and the unavailable Evan Regan but their ‘next man up’ attitude paid rich dividends and their ticket to the provincial semi-final was booked long before the finish.

Goals from Mikey Murray and Niall Feeney helped them to a 2-6 to 0-2 lead at the interval and in truth the result was decided at that stage.

The British champions found it nigh impossible to break down the Ballina rearguard and made very little headway inside the final third. Ger Cafferkey was having a fine game at full-back but was substituted before half time due to illness.

Sam Callinan, Luke Feeney, Sean Regan and the Irwin brothers, Jack and Frank caught the eye in the opening half for the Mayo men and they were well worth the healthy ten-point lead at half way.

Very little changed after the break, as Ballina, much improved from their county final performance, continued to enjoy a healthy advantage despite the best efforts of Fulham’s Dublin/Kerry duo Niall O’Leary and Jack Goulding.

Goulding was the target-man for the chasers but David Tighe was minding him in the second half and did a very fine job.

Indeed, the visitors' only scores in the second half came from three O’Leary frees, and they failed to add to their tally in the last 20 minutes.

Both sides took the opportunity to get fresh legs on the pitch in the closing stages and a late goal from Conor McStay allied to a flurry of points sent the Mayo champions off to prepare for next Saturday’s clash with Galway standard-bearers Corofin.

A full match report and after-match reaction will be carried in Tuesday’s Mayo News