Douglas title joy turns sour as referee declares stalemate

Austin Stacks 1-11 Douglas 2-8

In a lively and always competitive decider, everyone in the ground, including rivals Austin Stacks, felt that Douglas had won an absorbing contest 2-9 to 1-11 to claim their first title.

Stacks selector Mikey Sheehy congratulated Douglas on their victory. Douglas jumped for joy. But when referee Kelly signalled extra-time after ‘a draw’, confusion reigned.

Of course, the dangers of having no scoreboard at a competitive fixture was to backfire significantly, with the referee deeming that one Douglas point from a Willie Coveney free had not gone over the bar.

The fact that Stacks goalkeeper David Hennebry took the kick-out from the 21 would indicate that he believed it had, and in the ensuing controversy no extra-time was played, leaving the organisers now looking for a solution.

The game itself was competitive throughout, a real Cork-Kerry battle, with the referee sending off two players and flashing plenty of yellow cards.

Douglas, wind at their backs, were first to strike when Willie Coveney pointed a free after only two minutes, a lead they never subsequently relinquished though they rode their luck at times.

And it got even better for the Corkmen a minute later when, in a swift raid all the way from goalkeeper Brian Boyle, John Farrell found Steve Bermingham in space and the youngster crashed home a fine goal. The Stacks defence looked in disarray.

However, the Tralee men hit back and with Darragh Long giving the Douglas defence plenty to think about, they were quickly back in the game. Long pointed a free in the sixth minute and Kieran Donaghy, very impressive at midfield, pointed from play and it was shaping into a nice contest.

Then Stacks were denied a goal when Billy Sheehan, who had a terrific second-half, put Long through only for his shot came back off the butt of the upright.

The escape seemed to inspire Douglas for, playing some nice football, a point apiece from midfielders Conor McCarthy and Cormac Dineen earned them a 1-4 to 0-3 lead after the opening quarter, and good value for it.

Darren Aherne reduced the deficit with a free and then Douglas had another huge let-off in the 21st minute when Pa Laide put Martin McKivergan clear but this time his shot came back off the underside of the crossbar as lady luck again smiled on Douglas.

And the Cork side finished the half in style with Coveney kicking a huge sideline point and Bermingham finishing a mighty effort to leave them 1-7 to 0-4 clear at the break.

Stacks were a different team in the second-half though, with Sheehan and Donaghy controlling the game and the introduction of Martin Courtney also began to pay dividends.

Sheehan quickly reduced the gap but Douglas looked in cruise control in the 32nd minute when Gary McLoughlin robbed Kenneth Leen to fire home Douglas’ second goal.

Then came Coveney’s controversial free but, all the time, Stacks were eating away at the Douglas lead.

Long, just like Coveney in the first-half, kicked a beauty from the sideline, substitute Courtney then pointed, but it was Sheehan, now giving Douglas centre-back Neil Heffernan a torrid time, who was producing the magic, scoring three fine points, and just before the end of the third quarter he was in for a goal and Stacks were back in the ball game trailing 2-9 to 1-9.

Donaghy was masterful now and Heffernan’s frustration was highlighted when he was sent off for a wild kick on Sheehan.

Luckily for Douglas though, Stacks couldn't put the ball over the bar as William Kirby, Aherne, Sheehan, Paul Hennebry and then Sheehan again all missed gilt edged chances.

In a rip roaring finish, points from Aherne and Pa Laide reduced the leeway to the minimum - or so everyone bar referee Kelly thought. Laide then got himself sent off for verbally abusing the referee and Douglas, taking heart, began to hold up the ball thinking they had that one-point lead.

Scorers for Austin Stacks: B. Sheehan 1-3, K. Donaghy, D. Long (0-1 free, 0-1 sideline), D. Aherne (0-1 free) 0-2 each, M. Courtney, P. Laide 0-1 each.

Douglas: G. McLoughlin, S. Bermingham 1-1 each, W. Coveney (0-1 free, 0-1 sideline), F. O'Sullivan (0-1 free) 0-2 each, C. McCarthy, C. Dineen 0-1 each.

AUSTIN STACKS: D. Hennebry; T. Costelloe, K. Leen, B. Dennehy; W. Quillinan, P. Hennebry, P. Laide; W. Kirby, K. Donaghy; O. Colgan, B. Sheehan, D. Aherne; D. Long, M. McKivergan, D. Sayers.

Sub: M. Courtney for Colgan.

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

Subs: E. Cadogan for Sheehan, R. Keating for Fitzgerald.

Referee: J. Kelly (Waterford).