Douglas claim the Cormac O’Connor Butchers & Foodhall Seandún Cup with a win over St Nicks

Douglas 3-8 (3-0-8)

St Nicholas 2-9 (2-1-7).

Douglas defeated holders St Nicholas to claim the Cormac O’Connor Butchers & Foodhall Seandún Cup in the final, before a sizeable attendance at Ballinlough.

Following a promising start by St. Nicholas, Douglas raised their game following the first half water break, as they held the Blackpool side scoreless for the second quarter.

In a relatively low-scoring second half, which produced four goals, wayward shooting was proving to be costly for St. Nicholas, but they got the game’s only two-pointer with time almost up.

Despite playing against the elements in the opening half, the Blackpool side had Douglas pinned back from the start, as Daniel Heffernan and Eddie Fuller each tagged on points from play.

Doulgas opened their account in the fourth minute, when Ray Keating slotted over a free.

St. Nicholas had Douglas back on the defensive. They opened up a five-point gap, as Ryan Long and Heffernan both got two points each.

Michael Nason got Douglas’ first point from play and this was followed by Keating’s second pointed free. 

This left the Blackpool side leading 0-6 to 0-3 at the first half water break.

With the wind in their favour, Douglas promptly began to turn the screw as Shane Tobin tagged on two unanswered points from play. 

This was followed by Keating’s third pointed free.

Douglas took the lead for the first time in the contest when Nason set up Ian Lucey for the game’s opening goal in the 24th minute.

Keating got his first point from play on the stroke of half-time. This left Douglas leading by 1-7 to 0-6 at the interval.

Douglas got two goals in the third quarter.

Nason set up Shane Tobin for his side’s second goal in the 33rd minute to stretch the margin to 2-7 to 0-6.

Doulgas continued to have St. Nicholas on the back foot and seven minutes later, Shane Tobin set up Nason for Douglas’ third goal.

The Blackpool side responded when Heffernan added his fourth point, midway through the second half. 

This left the scoreline reading 3-7 to 0-7 in favour of Douglas at the second half water break.

With the game effectively over as a contest, St. Nicholas, to their credit, refused to give up without a struggle.

Eoghan O’Sullivan set up Long for a goal in the 49th minute, which reduced the margin to six points.

Shane Tobin responded with Douglas’ only point of the final quarter.

Long set up Jamie Corkery for the Blackpool side’s second goal with time almost up.

Two minutes into stoppage time, Gavin Marhsall landed the game’s only two-pointer for St. Nicholas.

Scorers for Douglas: S Tobin 1-2; M Nason 1-1; R Keating 0-4 (0-3f); I Lucey 1-0; F Gallagher 0-1.

St. Nicholas: R Long 1-2; D Heffernan 0-4; J Corkery 1-0; G Marshall 0-2 (1 2pt), E Fuller 0-1.

Douglas: M Holland; N Fanning, P Tobin, C Lennon; M Lyons, E Cotter, B O’Keeffe; R Keating, B O’Neill; D Morrissey, I Lucey, K Murphy; M Nason S Tobin, J Harte.

Subs: E Markey for Keating (46), F Gallagher for Morrissey (48), D Hughes for O’Keeffe (59).

St. Nicholas: A Murphy; D Marshall, O O’Connell, J Corkery; J Keniry, R Byrne, E Murphy; D Morris, R Long; E Fuller, G Marshall, J Galvin; D Hefferna, J O’Sullivan, J Murphy.

Subs: E Murphy for D Marshall (35, inj), E O’Sullivan for Fuller, M Gayfer for Galvin (both 35), R Brosnan for E Murphy (42).

Referee: David Daly (Brian Dillon’s).