Douglas are pushed all the way by Nick's

Douglas 0-9 St. Nicholas 0-7

Late points from John Farrell and Steve Bermingham got the winners out of a bind in a contest that could easily have gone either way.

Fair play to Nick's for the way they battled back after being outclassed in the first-half. Douglas were the better team on the night and deserved their victory. But another performance like this in the final against Austin Stacks simply won't be good enough.

Clearly intent on making up for last week's Tadgh Crowley Cup defeat by Ballincollig, Douglas played some good football in the opening half and once Steve Bermingham and Willie Coveney put them clear inside the opening five minutes they looked in control against a youthful though game St Nick's side.

Eoin McCarthy did get a point back for Nick's before the end of the first quarter but with Cormac Dineen in control around the centre of the park and Coveney looking menacing up front it looked good for Douglas.

Neil Heffernan then pointed and John Farrell rowed in with two more to put them 0-6 to 0-1 clear after 22 minutes although, in fairness to Nick's, they battled away gamely and refused to wilt.

Robert Brosnan pointed a free and Ray Considine, turned full-forward for the night, was only inches away from a goal as Douglas, leading 0-6 to 0-2 at the break, got some warning signals.

When Bermingham struck over Douglas' seventh point just after the restart it looked game set and match. They controlled the contest, with Ronan McCarthy and Dave McSweeney solid in defence. But all their slick movement ended in nought as, amazingly, they failed to score again until the 58th minute.

Nick's, fresh and willing, began to take a grip on proceedings and by the end of the third quarter Brosnan, Considine and Eoghan Geaney pointed to leave just two points between the sides, 0-7 to 0-5. And, suddenly, the game was there for the taking.

It got even better for Nick's in the cold of the evening when Considine got his second point, a controversial one, and Brosnan tied up the scores in the 54th minute. Douglas looked rattled and from a position of control were now battling to save the game.

They left it late but two players who know how to get scores Farrell and Bermingham got them out of a bind and into the Munster final.

Scorers for Douglas: S. Bermingham, J. Farrell 0-3 each, W. Coveney, N. Heffernan, B Hanrahan 0-1 each.

St. Nick's: R. Brosnan 0- 3 (0-2 frees), R. Considine 0-2, E. McCarthy, E. Geaney 0-1 each.

DOUGLAS: B. Boyle; J. McCarthy, R. McCarthy, D. McSweeney; T. Sheehan, N. Heffernan, B. Hanrahan; C. Dineen, C. McCarthy; B. Fitzgerald, J. Farrell, F. O'Sullivan; W. Coveney, G. McLoughlin, S. Bermingham. Subs: J. Lane for Hanrahan, G. Wade for Fitzgerald.

ST. NICK'S: P. Cuthbert; S. Kennefick, D. Óg O'Donovan, E. Considine; L. Leahy, D. Cunningham, S. O'Donoghue; P. O'Brien, G. Callanan; D. Cronin, N. Harte, R. Brosnan; E. McCarthy, R. Considine, E. Geaney. Subs: D. Busteed for Harte, J. Kearney for McCarthy.

Referee: D. Linehan (Nemo Rangers).