Cloney clinch title

With the Cloney’s comprehensive win over 4th place Templepatrick and Millpark’s defeat to Dunmurry, Donaghcloney have an unassailable lead with only one match left.

Donaghcloney travelled to Templepatrick, minus a few regulars, knowing that the home team had the potential to dent the Cloney’s title hopes.

Templepatrick won the toss and asked Donaghcloney to bat first in damp conditions. The Cloney openers, Keith Martin and Stevie Hanna, set off cautiously determined to set a platform for a large total. With the slow outfield and some tight bowling, runs were initially hard to find, but soon the openers, particularly Martin with successive boundaries in the 10th over, started to dominate.

bowled

The 50 partnership was reached in the 14th over but unfortunately Martin was bowled in the following over for 24.

This brought Neil Carson to the crease and he and Hanna continued the good work. With few boundary opportunities, the two experienced batsmen ran aggressively between the wickets accumulating ones and twos.

Another 50 partnership ensued with the Cloney passing 100 in the 26th over. In the 29th over, with the score on 119, Hanna was run out going for another quick single – he had scored an excellent 38.

The wickets of Lyttle and Marshall followed quickly but this brought Brian Lyttle to join Carson. Lyttle dominated their stand of 42 with a hard hitting 29 before being bowled. Carson, attempting to score quickly in the final overs, was dismissed for 42 caught at mid wicket.

Some lusty blows by Moates, Warren and McClure helped Donaghcloney to 205 all out in the 49th over.

In reply, Templepatrick raced off to a quick start taking advantage of some wayward bowling but soon Johnny Stevenson picked up two quick wickets. Templepatrick continued to score at four runs an over but the introduction of spinner Stevie Hanna bowling along with Davy Marshall soon slowed the scoring rate.

With the required run rate climbing, further wickets tumbled to Marshall and Hanna. A superb boundary return from Timmy McClure resulted in a run out leaving Templepatrick on 78 for 6. Donaghcloney then introduced the 14 year old off spinner – Shane Warren – into the attack. Shane held his own against the senior opposition and managed to claim his first senior wicket, that of Templepatrick’s main batsman – Artie Campbell - who had scored 57. Timmy McClure and Matthew Lyttle removed the remaining batsmen with Templepatrick finishing on 125, 80 runs short of the Donaghcloney total.

With news of Millpark’s demise against Dunmurry, Donaghcloney were confirmed League Champions. Donaghcloney skipper Keith Martin elated with the league success stated “this performance tops a brilliant season for Donaghcloney, with the 1st XI success and 2nd XI maintaining their position in a new league after last year’s promotion and an ever improving junior section. He added “next season will be tough but with further facility improvements planned and the introduction of a 3rd XI, there are existing times ahead at the Factory Ground.