Miracle in Mayo: Ballina stun Westport in epic comeback
Ballina Stephenites came from ten points down to defeat Westport in the Mayo county final replay.Padraig O'Hora of Ballina Stephenites is tackled by Eoghan McLaughlin of Westport.(Image: ©INPHO/James Lawlor)Ballina Stephenites 2-13 Westport 1-15Evan Regan was the Ballina hero as they came back from the dead to land the Mayo championship.No one gave them a prayer when they fell 10 points adrift with just 16 minutes of regulation time remaining.But this two-game saga has been full of twists and turns.In last week's drawn game, Ballina blew an eight point lead and then relied on a late equaliser from Frank Irwin to force a replay.This time they were the team on the ropes after Westport got off to a flying start - Finnbarr McLaughlin getting a first minute goal to put them in front.Even at this early stage, the game threatened to slip away from Ballina, with Westport moving five points clear before Stephenites got their first score of the day, a two-pointer from Regan on nine minutes.Yet the first half still belonged to Westport. At one stage they scored five points on the spin, Joey Holmes and Killian Kilkelly on fire for Westport.And while Irwin and Padraig O’Hora replied, Rory Brickenden had the final word in the half when he landed a two pointer.Seven points clear at the break, Kilkelly’s opening two points of the second half stretched their lead to nine.Then, four minutes later, they were ten clear after McLaughlin scored.But incredibly it was not over.Instead Ballina were only getting started.First Evan Regan got a goal on 46 minutes to give them hope.Then Dylan Thornton got another goal eight minutes later to give them belief.And finally Irwin, Conor McStay and three scores from Regan gave them the lead.There were 64 minutes on the clock when Ballina finally went in front. They only had the lead for 20 seconds in the game. But that was all they needed. Glory for them, despair for Westport.
