In reply, Souths were 3-76 just before stumps. Blake Fitzgerald (42 not out) and Tom Groth (19 out out) were still at the crease. Out were Brock Morley (2), Josh Crowe (1) and Jack Massey (6). 

O’Neill produced his best figures of the year – 6-36 off 14 overs – a day after his skipper, Mitch Smith, admitted that he had dropped the current NSW Country paceman from opening the attack to first change in a bid to lift his wicket tally.

O’Neill, a cricket journeyman who elevated his game in recent years by devoting himself to fitness, claimed his best figures in the three seasons he has been at Souths, bettering the 4-25 he took in the 2016-17 season. 

He has given his side a great chance of ending Old Boys’ bid for a fifth straight title, and ending Souths’ depressing sequence of five consecutive grand final losses.

As a decent crowd looked on from beneath the plane trees along Kable Avenue, on a warm and sunny autumn day, O’Neill was thrown the ball after Troy Osborne and Angus McNeill had removed Old Boys openers Abel Carney (15) and Simon Norvill (13), to leave the minor premiers at 2-28 after winning the toss. Norvill blasted a 35-ball century in his previous innings, when Old Boys demolished West Tamworth in the major semi-final final.

Old Boys were 3-44 when O’Neill removed Chris Dobson for 13, caught by wicketkeeper Groth, whom the fast bowler played with when NSW Country won the national country championship in January.

James Hammond then removed No.3 Adam Lole for two, to leave Old Boys at 4-55. They were 5-55 when O’Neill removed danger man Aaron Hazlewood for 10, caught by Conrad George.

O’Neill then claimed he next four wickets – Jack Richards (0), skipper Ben Middlebrook (29), Tyson Rennie (5) and Amit Kumar (0).