Westport's late surge yields first Mayo football crown

A flying finish helped Westport to win their first ever Mayo senior football championship title as they got the better of Ballina Stephenites at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park in Castlebar.

A string of points in the closing stages from goalkeeper Paddy O'Malley (free), joint captain Niall McManamon and impact substitute Alan Kennedy (2) saw the West Mayo side run out deserving winners after an intriguing final in front of 7,187 spectators.

The Stephenites had been fancied in advance to win the club’s 37th Mayo SFC title, especially after scoring 14-0 in their previous four matches, but they were never allowed to get into any sort of rhythm by Westport’s well-drilled troops.

The winner’s defence was outstanding all through with Luke Tunney, Rory Brickenden, Niall McManamon, Liam Shevlin, Brian McDermott and Paul Lambert forming an impregnable shield in front of the Westport goal.

As a consequence, Ballina’s attack found it almost impossible to get the time and space they needed, and they rarely threatened Paddy O’Malley’s goal.

The match was largely a tight and tactical affair with both sides cancelling each other for the most part, and the wintry conditions meaning that defences dominated.

The sides were level four times in the opening half before Conor McStay nudged Ballina ahead on the stroke of half-time and the North Mayo side led by 0-5 to 0-4 at the break.

The first watershed moment of the day arrived midway through the second half when referee Paul Lydon awarded a penalty to Westport after the ball was touched on the ground in the small square.

Man of the match Killian Kilkelly stepped up to beat two-time All Star winner, David Clarke, from the resultant penalty and suddenly Westport were 1-5 to 0-5 ahead.

Their lead only