St Finbarr’s 0-23 Douglas 1-18

ST FINBARR’S are through to the final of the Red FM Senior Hurling League after they narrowly defeated Douglas by two points after extra time at Páirc Uí Rinn.

With the scoreboard reading 1-15 to 0-18 at the end of normal time an additional period of play was required and the Barrs emerged victorious to seal their place in the showpiece occasion where they will meet Sarsfields. It was a repeat of their championship win over the same opposition, who had been touted as one of the contenders for the Seán Óg Murphy cannister.

The Togher club had started this game the better side as they lead by three points to one with just four minutes played. Douglas eventually settled into the contest and they edged in front in the eighth minute as Mark Dolan found some space and collected a long puck up the pitch before drilling the sliotar past the keeper when through on goal.

The match remained tight as the first half progressed and a brace of converted frees from St Finbarr’s half-forward Eoghan Finn and a couple of excellent scores from Brian Turnbull and Shane Bourke helped keep Douglas ahead 1-7 to 0-7 at the break.

Douglas continued to look the better of the two teams during the second half and with 15 minutes remaining they had the biggest lead of the night, 1-13 to the Barrs’ 0-11.

But the Barrs, managed by former Cork hurler Ronan Curran, failed to let their heads drop and finished strongly with four unanswered points, which included an excellent equaliser from James Goggin forcing the game to extra time, 1-15 to 0-18.

St Finbarr’s took that momentum into the added period and three expertly taken frees by Eoghan Finn helped his side secure the win by two points.

The Blues lost the football league final last week, but of course had memorably captured the championship crown back in October.

Scorers for St Finbarr’s: E Finn 0-7 f, J Goggin 0-4, B Beckett, C Cahalane and C Barrett 0-2 each, S Hurley 0-2 f, R O’Mahony, C Walsh, I Lordan, G O’Connor 0-1 each.

Douglas: M Dolan 1-4 (0-2 f), B Turnbull 0-4 (0-2 f), S Kingston 0-2 (0-1 f), D O’Mahony 0-2 f, M Collins, L McGrath and S Bourke 0-2 each.

Subs: I Lordan for B Beckett (30), C Keane for A McCarthy (43), Philip Kelleher for C Barrett (49).

DOUGLAS: T Delaney; S McGrath, D Murphy, D Sheehan; M Harrington, C Kingston, L McGrath; S Moylan, I Lucey; M Collins, D O’Mahony, M Dolan; B Turnbull, S Bourke, S Kingston.

Subs: D Ward for D O’Mahony (49), B Hartnett for I Lucey (49), M O’Callaghan for D Sheehan (63).

Referee: Simon Stokes (Tullylease).