Cricketers look forward to cup ‘derby’

John McCormick of Muckamore (second left) and Andy Kirkpatrick of Ballymena at the draw for next season's NCU Ulster Bank Senior Challenge Cup which saw the rival clubs pitted against each other. The draw was made by Ireland's National Coach, Phil Simmons, and Ulster Bank's Stephen Cruise.

One small mercy for the two teams in this case is that, because they have both been knocked out of the Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup, they can now play the game on Saturday 8th June, rather than face the problems of having to agree a midweek rearrangement date.

Teams will return to cup action this week-end, as Saturday sees the second round of the Ulster Bank Senior Cup.

The draw has thrown up a tasty local derby, with Ballymena travelling to Moylena to face their old rivals Muckamore. The home team, who now play in Section 1 of the Ulster Bank League, have played virtually no cricket so far this season due to the weather and will be hoping that a dry week will give them a chance to get into the field and pull off a giant-killing act against their Premier League neighbours.

Certainly Muckamore will take encouragement from their recent good record in cup competitions.

Last season they won two inter-union knock-out competitions, the National Cup and the Ulster Shield, and in doing so pulled off several thrilling victories in close games.

However Ballymena will be well aware of Muckamore’s cup runs in 2012 and will not under-estimate the fighting spirit of their local rivals. Certainly on paper the Eaton Park side would seem to have more batting strength in depth than the Moylena side.

Two seasons ago, when Muckamore were in the Premier League, Ballymena won the two local derbies convincingly, batting first and scoring 250 plus in both games.

However cup ties always have that little extra bit of spice, so it could well be a lot closer this time.

Muckamore have every incentive to raise their game in what for them is a nothing to lose situation.

This game has all the ingredients to be a really absorbing cup-tie, with an upset not beyond the bounds of possibility.

At the end of the day , Ballymena’s greater Premier League experience should give them the edge and they will surely be disappointed if they are not in next week’s quarter-final draw.