Ballina Stephenites captured their 32nd Mayo title and their first since 1987 by defeating Crossmolina at Ballina yesterday. Crossmolina, the reigning county league champions, were outplayed for most of the second half and a constant thorn in their side was Liam McHale, who was a member of the Ballina winning sides of 1985 and 1987.

Crossmolina were the better team in the first quarter due to the excellent work of their half-back line of James and Thomas Nallon and Francis Costello. Twice Ballina came from behind to draw level in the first 15 minutes with points from Martin McGrath and Brian McStay but over the second quarter Crossmolina pulled clear to lead 0-6 to 0-4 at the interval.

Within two minutes of the re-start Ballina had drawn level with points by Keith Lynn and Brian McStay. With McHale dominating midfield, the losers had to wait until five minutes from the end for their first score of the second half and that came from a free by Johnny Leonard.

Ballina: J Healy, K Golden, J Devanney, G Brady, B Ruane, B Heffernan, S Sweeney, L McHale, D Brady, B McStay (0-4), D Coen (0-3), M McGrath (0-1), P McStay (0-1), P McGarry (0- 1), K Lynn (0-1). Subs: S Barrett for McStay C Deasy for Brady.

Crossmolina: B Heffernan, D Mulligan, D Loftus, C Reilly, F Costello, (0-1), J Nallon, T Nallon, M Moyles, T Loftus, N Convey, P McGuinness (0-1), J Kane (0-1), L Moffatt, K McDonald (0-3), J Leonard (0-1). Subs: P J Loftus (0-1) for Connolly; S Rochford (0-1) for Reilly.

Referee: M Daly (Swinford).