FRANK & HONEST

Drama-filled final leaves both sides preparing to do it again

- MIKE FINNERTY

THERE was no shortage of drama in a pulsating Mayo SFC Final yesterday as Ballina Stephenites' Frank Irwin held his nerve to land an equalising twopoint free four minutes into added time.

Underdogs Westport had looked set to upset the odds when they took the lead for the first time in the closing stages through Brian McDermott’s brilliant two-pointer and a snapshot from Killian Kilkelly.

However, Irwin's late free for the defennding champions means the teams will have to meet again next weekend.

This repeat of the 2022 final certainly lived up to its billing in front of 7,989 captivated spectators.

The three-in-a-row chasing Stephenites hit the ground running and raced into a 0-7 to no score lead after 11 minutes, with Evan Regan (3), Mikey Murray (2) and the Irwin brothers, Jack and Frank, all on target.