Championship men start their All Ireland campaign

Championship sides have their eye on an All-Ireland run this coming weekend with the first round of the National Cup and some difficult ties for the local teams.
By The Newsroom
Published 8th May 2014, 12:30 BST
Teams from Ardmore, Newbuildings, Donemana and Coleraine along with umpires and officials from the Derry Mid-week League, pictured during the minute silence in memory of Sam McConnell.Teams from Ardmore, Newbuildings, Donemana and Coleraine along with umpires and officials from the Derry Mid-week League, pictured during the minute silence in memory of Sam McConnell.
Teams from Ardmore, Newbuildings, Donemana and Coleraine along with umpires and officials from the Derry Mid-week League, pictured during the minute silence in memory of Sam McConnell.

St Johnston and Glendermott are both in Senior Cup action by virtue of their finishing positions last time out and their places here are taken by Newbuildings and Ballyspallen.

Both have difficult first round hurdles to negotiate with the former likely to take a decent following south to take on Balbriggan while ’Spallen at least have home advantage for their tough test against Malahide.

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Struggling Sion Mills are also forced to travel as they try for a first win of the season down in Laois while there are shorter journeys for Creevedonnell and Bonds Glen as they visit NCU pair Derriaghy and Cliftonville respectively.

Killyclooney face a tough ask in their attempt for a third win in a row when they entertain a strong Rush outfit while Drummond and Burndennett are also drawn at home and will hope to progress at the expense of Bangor and Woodvale.

Meanwhile last Saturday’s league action saw two teams - Glendermott and Killyclooney maintain their 100 per cent winning start to the season as both posted wide-margin victories.

Gordon Montgomery’s men travelled to a Burndennett side that had also won their opening contest but the hosts were no match for the promotion favourites on this occasion.

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Glendermott batted first and professional Roy Silva lead the charge.

The Sri Lankan all-rounder was in typically aggressive form as he thumped nine sixes and four fours on his way to a quick-fire 79 although the home side will be cursing their luck having seen him dropped when on seven.

Bob Robinson played really well for his 64 and skipper Montgomery added a valuable 43. The Rectory outfit eventually closed their 50 overs on 293 for eight.

Burndennett struggled in reply with only Gerard McAuley (33) offering much in the way of resistance. Opening bowler Stuart Cochrane led the attack and returned figures of 5-22, while Curtis Ross (3-5) and Charlie Elder (2-27) completed the job with plenty in hand.