Ballina Stephenites retain Mayo SFC title with convincing victory over Knockmore
Ballina Stephenites' Padraig O'Hora is challenged by Caolan Hopkins of Knockmore ©INPHO/Tom Maher
Ballina Stephenites retained the Mayo senior football championship title this evening after seeing off Knockmore by 1-12 to 0-8 in Castlebar.
The holders were 0-2 to 0-0 to the good when Evan Regan hammered in their goal in the eighth minute and Frank Irwin’s free with five minutes to go in the half would see them towards a 1-6 to 0-3 half-time lead.
Conor McStay and Mikey Murray raised white flags early in the second-half that extended the lead to eight for Ballina.
Champions in 2020 and 2021, Knockmore grabbed a badly needed point from Caolan Hopkins in the 39th minute but it wouldn’t stop their counterparts from going on to open up a double-digit lead early in the final quarter.
Murray would round off the winners’ tally with 12 minutes left in normal time as two frees from Aidan Orme and a Hopkins mark ended up being in vain for Knockmore.
Congratulations to Ballina who are the 2024 Connactht Gold Senior Football Champions 🏆
— Mayo GAA (@MayoGAA) October 26, 2024
Full Time Result @NaStiofanaigh 1-12@Gaa_Knockmore 0-08 pic.twitter.com/z8dTk8vYB4
