But in truth, for most of the game, there was little doubt that Waringstown would be surrendering their hold on the TCH Down Democrat Challenge Cup.

North Down won with four wickets to spare and at one stage needed just five runs from the last two overs.

The fact that they made a meal of it was to delight the neutral and fray the nerves of the partisans.

If there was doubt at the heels of the hunt, there was none surrounding the man of the match.

In a relatively low-scoring game - Waringstown 187, North Down 188 for 6 - David Kennedy's 80 was a hugely impressive performance.

It was always on the cards that in the first one innings final in the history of the tournament, one of the many stars on parade would make a decisive contribution.

Given his remarkable form this season, it came as surprise that it was to be the excellent Comber batsman.

Kennedy had come to the wicket with only six on the board. He was to depart 153 runs later and victory pretty well assured.

North Down's pursuit of 187, at under four an over, began inauspiciously for Neil Russell, the dreaded leading edge carrying to Kyle McCallan at short extra cover in Simon Harrison's opening over - 6 for 1.

Fellow opener Ryan Haire and Kennedy have mounted many a productive stand this season and a cup final was an opportunity not to be missed.

They saw off the Waringstown opening attack of Simon Stokes and Simon Harrison - the latter's initial spell of just three overs ending in the ignominy of a towering six by Haire into the pavilion - without undue alarm.

The arrival of Waringstown's much vaunted off spin attack was to take the game into its crucial stage.

First up was Kyle McCallan, then Garfield Harrison - at 46 playing in his 11th cup final - and then James Hall who did much to secure Ireland's Under 19 World Cup place earlier in the week.

Although they occasioned one or two scares and slowed down the run rate they couldn't prevent Haire and Kennedy registering yet another half-century partnership - a stand that progressed to 61 before Haire was caught by Stokes off young Hall for 32 to make it 67 for 2 off 19 overs.

It was to be another 14 overs and 47 runs before Waringstown claimed their third wicket - Ralph Coetzee caught at mid wicket off Stuart Kidd for 19 - and in no time at all it was 123 for 4 with captain Peter Shields leg before to the medium-paced Kidd for three.

All the while Kennedy went serenely about his business, efficient and attractive on either side of the wicket and registering his 50 in the 30th over.

Robin Haire, playing in his 13th final, was to keep him in fine company, the two adding 36 before the crucial wicket of Kennedy went caught behind by Jonathan Bushe off Stuart Kidd for his 80 with the scoreboard now reading 159 for 5.

The wily Haire was joined by Marty Moreland and the countdown was on.

With four overs to go, 19 were required; then 14 off three and just five off two.

But in the penultimate over Haire departed - again to Kidd - and nail-biting began before Moreland hit the winning run.

Both sides were entitled to sleep reasonably soundly overnight after the inevitability of rain brought Friday's proceedings to a premature close.

Matters were fairly evenly balanced with Waringstown 121-for 4 off 32 overs but with McCallan and Hall - they had shared an 80-run partnership - among the unfortunate quartet, any slight tilt in the odds could be claimed by North Down.

The last thing Waringstown could afford was the loss of a quick wicket at the start of a new day but within three overs it came to pass for the addition of only seven runs.

Simon Harrison had added just two to his overnight score of 16 when the athleticism of Ryan Haire had him brilliantly caught square of the wicket off Gavin McKenna.

Harrison's overnight partner and skipper Jonathan Bushe was soon to join him in the pavilion, leg before to Dalzell, after adding but four to his nine of the previous afternoon.

At 140 for 6 and with only 10 overs remaining, Waringstown were decidedly groggy, never to find their equilibrium.

Next to go was Stuart Kidd, adjudged leg before to Moreland for six, to make it 163 for 7, and at 178 the last two balls of the 47th over saw to it that any Waringstown ambition of reaching the 200 mark had all but disappeared.

First to go was the aggressive Peter Hanna who had compiled 34 and whose presence promised greater respectability for his side.

His flourish came to an end attempting his third boundary - Moreland again the bowler, combining with the safe hands of Neil Russell at deep gully.

Next ball it was 178 for 9, Garfield Harrison calling Keith Morrison for a single to long off - a position, unfortunately for Morrison, occupied by the excellent Ryan Haire whose run out throw was unerring.

In the 50th over, McKenna brought matters to an end for Waringstown by bowling Simon Stokes.

All five of North Down's frontline bowlers returned remarkably similar economy rates for their full quota with Moreland, with three, and Dalzell and McKenna with two apiece leading the wicket takers.

No-one can feel secure with a total of 187 against the powerful North Down batting line-up. And so it proved - albeit with a few jitters at the death.