Search icon

GAA

23rd Oct 2021

Last-gasp winner by Fionn McDonagh sees Westport edge out Ballina in Mayo thriller

Lee Costello

Westport 0-13 1-09 Ballina

RTE are probably delighted that they chose this Mayo championship tie to be televised, as it proved to be a nail-bitter, right to the very last second.

Ballina got off to an absolutely rampant start, everything seemed be going there way as Padraig O’Hora swept up everything Westport had to offer, and the forwards looked like they couldn’t miss.

Before the first water break they had shots, converting all five, including a well taken goal by Luke Doherty, slotting the ball low and hard into the net.

Westport showed their resistance however, and even though Kevin Keane had to be substituted through injury, other players managed to step up and take charge.

The weather made it a scrappy affair, and although Lee Keegan didn’t have his best game in blue, he dug deep and rallied his side to victory.

The momentum was all Westport in the end, and when they equalised through Alan Kennedy, there only looked to be one winner.

However, time was against them, as the clock ticked over the allotted three minutes of injury time, the men in blue the ball over and broke deep from their own half.

After breaking down the right flank, they cut in, passing the ball until it found its way to midfielder Fionn McDonagh.

With everything on the line, this was sink or swim, and McDonagh managed to sail the ball over the bar to guarantee their place in the semi-finals.

WATCH: Liverpool BOTTLED the title race 🤬 | Who will win the Premier League?