Brigade and Glendermott set up”Waterside derby” cup final

There will be a very local flavour to the 2019 senior cup final at Eglinton next month as Brigade and Glendermott booked their places in the showpiece decider on Sunday afternoon.

Brigade were made to work hard at Ardmore where a Ciaran Curley half century helped the home side to make a total of 193 against the high-flying visitors. Ryan Brolly and Peter Harrigan weighed in with 30 and 25 respectively while Johnny Thompson had figures of 3-42 for Brigade.

Despite that however there is little doubt that former Ardmore player Iftikhar Hussain’s spell of 2-8 from 10 overs was a major factor in the hosts being kept within range.

David Barr was again among the runs yet again for the visitors- he made 50 at the top of the order, however Brigade needed a 74-run partnership between Kyle Magee and David Murdock to get them home. Magee was the man who helped end the Bleachgreen team’s interest last season when he and skipper Andy Britton pulled it around in the nick of time, and although they didn’t leaver it quite so late here, his 72* was a brilliant effort again.

Murdock’s 20-ball 41 wasn’t bad either as the Limavady Road side made it a weekend to remember.

The other semi-final was more or less over before it began after Glendermott had Ballyspallen reeling on 9-4 in just 4 overs. Keshan Wijerathne (4-19), Alan Johnson (2-14) and Reece Laird (2-18) were the men who did the damage with the ball as the Roe Valley side were all out for just 93.

Bob Robinson made 46 and Gordon Montgomery 24 as Glendermott easily chased down the target for the loss of 3 wickets.

This will be the Rectory men’s first final in 12 years and there seems little doubt that their supporters intend to enjoy it.