We won the game fair and square, says furious Douglas trainer Evans

WHO will succeed Aghada as winners of the Munster Club Senior Football League title?

That's a question organisers will have to mull heavily over in the next few days after the farce that saw Douglas denied their moment of glory in Ballyvourney yesterday.

Certainly Douglas can justifiably claim they won the competition on the pitch after a tremendous battle with Austin Stacks. And there would be no complaints from the Kerrymen.

After an absorbing final, Douglas jumped for joy at the sound of Waterford referee Sean Michael Kelly's whistle. They had hung on tenaciously with 14 men centre-back Neil Heffernan was sent off 12 minutes from time against a mighty Stacks onslaught that could, and should, have yielded a far greater return.

Kerry legend and Stacks selector Mikey Sheehan was first to offer congratulations to Douglas who had won a tough game 2-9 to 1-11. Or so they thought.

Then referee Kelly dropped a bombshell by declaring a draw, 2-8 to 1-11. Extra-time.

He must have been the only man in the ground to have had that particular scoreline.

There was no scoreboard, but the three journalists present all had the Cork side winning by one point.

There was consternation afterwards, Douglas were furious and no extra-time was played.

Referee Kelly later declared that a pointed free from Douglas sharpshooter Willie Coveney in the 37th minute had not gone over the bar. Everyone else did, including Stacks goalkeeper David Hennebry, as the ensuing kick-out was taken from the 21.

No wonder Douglas trainer Mick Evans was livid. "What the hell is going on? Everyone knows the right score, we won fair and square. What annoys me most is that Stacks should have come to us and told us 'well done lads, here's the cup, you deserve it'. That's the least they could have done."

Douglas selector Der O'Regan was equally annoyed. He said: "We won the game fairly and for this to happen is farcical. We're gutted, a sad day for the GAA".

Stacks secretary Martin Collins was sympathetic but realistic. "As far as I am concerned Douglas won the game but the referee is the man in charge and if he says the game is a draw, then what can we do? We'll have to wait and see what happens now but the whole thing is very unsatisfactory really."

Certainly, the organisers will have to get their house in order and ensure that if there is a replay, the venue has a scoreboard operating.