Bee Gees still top charts

Bonds Glen and Burndennett will contest this year's final of the Sammy Jeffrey shield after wins over Creevedonnell and Killyclooney respectively.

The Bee Gees are enjoying a fantastic season and sparked yet more celebrations in the camp following their Sperrin Springs win against Drummond on Sunday.

They also came out on top in a highly entertaining contest in Saturday's Sammy Jeffrey semi-final against a side that boasts an excellent record in this particular tournament. Keith Hamilton top scored for the hosts with 46 closely followed by Roy Robinson with 45 as they got off to a good start. Colin Hall played well for his 39 as well but when it looked as though Bonds Glen would be posting 220 plus, Creevedonnell fought back.

Charlie Elder with 3 for 41, Andrew Clarke (3 for 48) and Nicky Cooke (2 for 15) helped the visitors regain a hold on the score and they would have walked in for their tea relatively happy having kept the home side below 200.

Things went quite well for Stephen Scroggie's side at the start of their reply as well, Clarke and Elder combining again to post a half century opening stand.

A couple of quick wickets can change games however and Willie Jackson (3 for 37) and Richard Hepburn (2 for 26) then combined to turn the contest back towards their side. Nicky Cooke resisted with 31 in the middle order and Brian Dougherty briefly threatened to pull off the win for Creevedonnell, however in the end they came up just 18 runs short.

Burndennett made it through in slightly more comfortable style when they had 5 wickets to spare over Killyclooney. Mark Gordon with 37 and Gary Stewart with 36 gave the hosts a solid enough platform and James Colhoun added 29 but despite Alan Colhoun chipping in with 22 the lower order couldn't build on that initiative.

Stephen McCay with 4 for 40 and Mark Roulston with 3 for 26 did best with the ball as Burndennett were set 184 to win. Dean Mehaffey then put the visitors in the driving seat with an excellent half century that included 6 fours and 2 sixes and McCay finished the job with a typically aggressive unbeaten 39 that included 3 fours and 3 sixes.

Mark Gordon with 3 for 34 completed an excellent day's work although it will have been scant consolation as his side took their leave of the competition.

There were two league games also concluded on Saturday as Ardmore took advantage of everyone's distraction to move back alongside the Bee Gees at the top of the table with a win at Ballyspallen.

The Bridge Park side must be sick of the site of Adrian Murphy by this stage as after hitting a double century against them in the reverse fixture he was at it again here. The West Indian wasn't quite as destructive this time, just 109 in all, as the Bleachgreen side made 180 for 9 in their 50 overs.

Considering Murphy's contribution Ardmore would surely have been disappointed with the rest although to be fair they were hardly at full strength. Any thoughts of a surprise were soon extinguished however as Gerard McAuley ripped through 'Spallen's order to claim 5 for 21. Conor Brolly with three wickets and George Brolly with 2 then tidied matters up as the hosts were all out for 104.

The Nedd accounted for Sion Mills in a low-key affair at Ballykelly, the hosts dismissed for just 91 after Johnny Young with 27 and Kyle Morrow, 20, had given them a decent start.

Lee McGonigle picked up five wickets and Nigel O'Neill 4 but when it came their turn to bat the Tyrone side didn't have enough about them to overhaul the moderate target. Mark Patterson made 25 but that apart it was a pretty moderate show as they were dismissed for 74. Creighton Wilson was easily the best of the home side's bowling with 6 for 5 but he was given excellent support by Keith Burns with 4 for 24 in a welcome win.

It's a busy time for Division 2 clubs coming up as the Bee Gees would be expected to keep the pressure on when they entertain The Nedd whilst Ardmore have an altogether more difficult task when they travel to Creevedonnell, both those games listed for Saturday.

Burndennett sit out Saturday but will be favourites to win at Ballyspallen on Sunday before travelling to Creevedonnell for what should be an intriguing 40 over contest starting on Monday evening.

Drummond have just the one game, that at home to Killyclooney on Saturday, the visitors then hosting Sion Mills in Monday evening's second game.

The Nedd follow up their trip to the Bee Gees on Saturday with another difficult ask at home to Creevedonnell. The promotion picture could well be a little clearer this day next week.