Fox Lodge and Eglinton set for cup final showdown
It’s the start of a busy programme of cup finals across the North West over the next few weeks and Eglinton and Fox Lodge get things going on Friday night with the Women’s Senior Final at Strabane Park (6.30pm).
The Ballymagorry girls go into the match as slight favourites on the back of a fantastic recent run in this competition. This will be their fifth final in a row and although they lost out to Bready in 2021, they won the previous three, including their 2020 triumph over the villagers.
Skipper Mollie Devine is hoping to make that four from five this weekend but is well aware of the dangers of any complacency.
“We’re delighted to be in another final and it is the highlight of the women’s club season to play in that. We do have a very good record in the cup and we deserve to be there having beaten two quality teams in Bready and Coleraine” she said.
“Eglinton deserve to be there too though and we’re well aware that they have some really good players themselves. We need to be right on our game because if we’re not, they will make things very difficult for us.”
“Zara Craig, Alice McLaughlin and Arianna McKenna were part of the North West team that played in this week’s Future Series and they were in great form, so we have to be mindful of that.”
“There’s always a big crowd up for the final so the whole team is looking forward to it. We’re in decent form and if we play well, we can win it.”
No doubt Mollie got a good view of her opposition during this week’s future series as her and Zara batted superbly together in the last two matches.
Zara also won the ‘Bowler of the Series’ award after a brilliant week with the ball and the Eglinton captain is in her best form just in time for the final.
Arianna has been having a great season at the top of the order too, but it is with the ball that the villagers’ strength might lay.
As well as skipper Craig, Alice McLaughlin has been a revelation with the new ball and her and the likes of Jenni Jackson could easily pose problems for the Foxies.
It has all the makings of a good game and as always your support for the two teams would be warmly welcomed.
The best of luck to both teams and we’ll have a report and photos from Strabane Park tomorrow night.
