Three-time defending champions Ballina Stephenites are out of the Mayo GAA SFC after a stunning win for Castlebar Mitchels on Friday night.

Ballina have created something of a dynasty in Mayo in recent years, reaching each of the last four SFC finals and winning the last three.

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However, an opening day defeat to Garrymore meant their championship future was on the line when they traveled to Castlebar on Friday.

This matchup brought the two most successful teams in the history of Mayo GAA together. However, the last decade has very much so been Ballina’s territory, with Castlebar’s wait for a county title extending to nine years.

Based on their brilliance on Friday night, that wait could be set to end.

The crowds poured in for an epic occasion, as Castlebar ultimately ran out seven-point winners to dump Ballina out of the Mayo SFC.

Mayo intercounty star Bob Tuohy was among the most important players for Castlebar, nailing a pivotal two-pointer just as Ballina threatened to work their way back into the game.

Castlebar had built up a four-point lead down the home stretch, before Neil Douglas’s injury-time goal put paid to Ballina’s hopes.

There was heavy involvement from Castlebar in Mayo’s iconic All-Ireland win, one of the most dramatic in GAA history.

Tuohy was instrumental in the Mayo midfield, and a few of his inter-county teammates were also in action on another dramatic night on Friday.

One of those, Paddy Durcan, spoke post-match and had a brilliant outlook on following up Mayo’s inter-county success with a seismic club result.

Castlebar dump Ballina out of Mayo SFC

Though the external focus may be on Castlebar Mitchels knocking out the back-to-back-to-back Mayo champions, their focus was not on Ballina Stephenites going into Friday’s matchup.

“I suppose the focus, really, was on ourselves, we just wanted to get out of the group first and foremost, we didn’t do that last year,” Castlebar and Mayo star Paddy Durcan told StreamSport after their win.

Look, it was just an opportunity for us to get out of the group tonight, irrespective of who it was.

But, in fairness to Ballina, they’ve been a serious team, you don’t win three titles in a row for no reason, they’ve been the best team. It was just great to get that second win tonight and be looking into the last game now, we’ll drive on to that.

Durcan played a major role in Mayo’s All-Ireland win, coming off the bench as they held off Kerry down the home straight.

The county has, of course, been swept up in hysteria since that win to end all wins.

Durcan was asked how it had been to return to the club game in the midst of the wild celebrations – and his understated answer spoke volumes to how much his club means to him.

I suppose, look, there’s no point saying any different, there’s been a massive feel-good factor around the county.

Look, we’re in good spirits, we always love coming back playing with our clubs, irrespective of how Mayo do.

It’s just brilliant to be back here playing for Castlebar. Hopefully, we have a few more wins.

It’s a nice sentiment that sums up just how much the club game means, even after one of the most dramatic wins in Gaelic football history.