"If someone told me this morning that we'd keep Dubbo to 190 on the road, I'd take that any day," Heraghty said after Parkes restricted the home side to that total at Dubbo's Victoria Park.

In reply Parkes finished it's innings at 169, 22 runs short of victory.

At 4/21 and looking down the barrel of setting Parkes a small total Dubbo's Corey McDean decided to take the bull by the horns and challenge the Parkes bowlers.

Dubbo skipper Mat Skinner said it was a good thing McDean made that decision because his innings of 84 set up the victory for the home side.

"Being 3/140 at 35 overs, any team shouldn't be getting beaten from there," he said before shouldering blame for the loss.

"My fault mainly, I'll come out and say I lost it for the team," Heraghty said, despite the fact he top scored with 54.

He was also one of the best with the ball finishing with impressive bowling figures of 1/22 off his 10 overs.

Myles Smith lead the bowling attack with 3/30 and Brent Tucker and Phil Dunford finished with figures of 2/22 and 2/38 respectively.

"Our last 16 overs I think that's the best we've bowled and fielded in the last two or three years.

"You take Corey McDean out and they probably get beaten, full credit to him he batted well," he said.

Heraghty's dismissal, with the score at 139, set off a collapse for Parkes with Dan Wilson dismissed without worrying the scorer followed in quick succession by Blake Smith (21), Mitch Wright (0), Phil Dunford (5), Brent Tucker (16) and Anthony Riach (1).

"At the end of the day, full credit to Dubbo," Heraghty said.

"They bowled great lines, they bowled full and straight, they've done that twice to us this year.

"It's disappointing but that's cricket," he said.

For Dubbo Thomas Nelson (19), Steve Skinner (22) and Jacob Hill (26) led a late order fightback ably assisting McDean.

“We knew anything around 200 would be very defendable and with grand final pressure we were in with a shot, I can’t praise Corey enough for how well he batted," Dubbo captain Mat Skinner said.

“I took it on-board to knock the ball around a bit and be patient during the middle overs,” McDean said.

“It was good to have Stuart Naden with me with his mature head he really helped me out.

“At some stages, I thought I had to stay out in the middle, but I knew if the ball was up in the slot I had to hit them, it was good to have the confidence to do that today.”

Despite the loss Heraghty he is hopeful of keeping the nucleus of this year's side for a shot at the Western side next season.

"We've got a good bunch of young boys coming through, Harry Baylis even got a bowl today which is good," he said.

"Hopefully we can keep the same side next year without many changes and hopefully go one better," he added.