Donemana win League 1 cup final
Yet another overnight deluge put paid to all but a couple of Saturday’s scheduled matches this weekend with local players (and a beleaguered Fixture Secretary) hoping that things now dry up in time for an important Sunday programme.
One game that was completed on Saturday was the League One cup final where Donemana IIs accounted for The Nedd by 10 wickets.
In truth, the damage had been done in Friday’s first innings where the hosts had led by a massive 184 runs at the end of a dominant day.
Ritchie McBrine smashed a 45-ball 113 (5 fours and 13 sixes) with Graham Boyd adding 65 (5 fours, 5 sixes), Mark Moore 45, Joe Robinson 38 and Adam Kelly 31 (4 sixes) in the hosts’ first innings total of 366-9.
Johnny Murray (3-54) fared best with the ball while there were two wickets each for Johnny Young and Jon McMichael.
Young top scored with the bat- his 43 and 30 from Mark McCann the best of the Ballykelly side’s 182 all out – skipper Jamie Huey (3-14) leading from the front with the ball while there were also two wickets each for McBrine, Graham Boyd and Adam Britton.
Leading by 184, Donemana enforced the follow-on, and fair play to both teams as they got the third innings done before stumps on Friday.
The Nedd batted much better this time around with Dylan Moore hitting an unbeaten 63 (5 fours, 4 sixes), while Jacob Logan Wilson’s 59 contained 7 sixes and a four.
McCann and Reuben Wilson chipped in with 34 and 33 respectively and Steve Moore 27 in a battling 271 all out- an overall lead of 87.
Early rain on Saturday saw the fourth innings reduced to 20 overs with Donemana set 58 to win and it took just 4 overs- Player of the Match McBrine hitting 5 sixes in his 13-ball 35* and Robinson 14* as the Tyrone side secured the win.
The one Long’s SuperValu senior league game was also something of a run-fest as Newbuildings crushed Glendermott by 278 runs in a rain-affected game.
The match was reduced to 31 overs a side, but there was still time for Jason Dunn and Gareth McKeegan to post a 264-run stand for the first wicket.
McKeegan was out immediately after passing his century (68 balls; 7 fours, 8 sixes) while ‘Bull’ carried on his merry way- smashing 11 fours and 20 sixes in an 88-ball 192.
Trent McKeegan got in on the fun with 43 from 19 (3 fours, 4 sixes) with all the home bowlers put to the sword, although Ben Mills did pick up a couple of wickets.
The Glendermott skipper also made 40 in his side’s reply; however the highest score after him was 11 in a disappointing 88 all out.
Trent was unplayable at times as he claimed 5-24 while Gregory McFaul claimed 3-12 in a vital win for the cup finalists as they moved into the top half of the senior table.
***Anyone planning on attending Brigade’s All-Ireland T20 semi-final against Balbriggan on Sunday should note that it has been moved to the Rectory (2pm start).
The Women’s semi-final will also be played, with Fox Lodge hosting CSNI at Ballymagorry (2pm).
The Derry Midweek T20 finals day will go ahead at Bonds Glen with Donemana meeting Glendermott in the Sperrin Springs final at 12 noon.
That will be followed around 3.30 with the Eric Cooke cup decider between Coleraine and Eglinton.
There are also three Long’s SuperValu Premier Division replays pencilled in-
Bready v Strabane; Ardmore v Bonds Glen; Burndennett v Newbuildings.
