Cup action takescentre stage again

Following Monday night’s Senior Cup final success for Richard Kee’s side they have another massive game this weekend.

At the Holm on Saturday, Donemana entertain Dublin side Merrion in the Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup semi-final while on Sunday at Eglinton Brigade play Belfast side CSNI in the Ulster Cup final.

There are three important Senior One games on Saturday while Coleraine welcome Bready in a top of the league clash on Sunday.

Saturday

Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup

Donemana v Merrion

After Monday night’s Senior Cup win Richard Kee’s side will go into this one full of confidence.

Even with a couple of players missing in last week’s final they still produced the goods; their production line keeps supplying young players with lots of talent.

However they will be missing another three players from the cup winning side, as William and Gary McClintock and William McBrine will be involved with the Ireland U15 side.

Merrion defeated Donemana in this competition last season and they are a very useful side. Players like big hitting New Zealander John Anderson, Ben Ackland and Australian Tim Lang who opens the bowling add in former international Dom Joyce and you can see they are a formidable outfit, however with a big home support Donemana may just do it.

Prediction: Donemana

Senior One

Bonds Glen v Strabane

The Bee Gees know that relegation is almost a certainty and a season or two in Senior Two will allow them to regroup and start enjoying their cricket again.

The Red Caps welcome back their professional after his stint with Pakistan and he will be a big player for them as their challenge for the title intensifies, they should win this one.

Prediction: Strabane

Glendermott v Limavady

The Bonds Street men after a couple of big wins have eased their relegation worries but they know that they are not out of the woods just yet, skipper Gordon Montgomery showed his true form with a century against Fox Lodge.

Limavady are one of five sides in with a chance of the title, after a poor start to the season they now are firing on all cylinders, they certainly have the players to go all the way.

Prediction: Limavady.

Fox Lodge v Brigade

The Foxies even after a couple of big wins recently still lie joint third from bottom, they welcomed back opening bowler Gareth Heywood which will help but that department still doesn’t look strong.

Brigade’s batsmen let themselves down by playing some poor shots in the second innings in the cup final, however the talent in their top order is still there and they are not completely out of the title race.

Prediction: Brigade.

Sunday

Ulster Cup Final

Brigade v CSNI

The second cup final in a row for the Beechgrove men, they have knocked out some fancied sides in reaching the final and they will have skipper Mark Simpson back at the helm.

The Belfast side have been impressive in this competition but their league form has been patchy, however they have a strong batting line up with players of the calibre of Mark Jones and Charlie Beverland at the top of the order, they may be to strong for Limavady Road men.

Prediction: CSNI.

Senior One

Coleraine v Bready

These two top the table at the moment so its all to play for, the Bannsiders are certainly going in the right direction and perhaps another new signing would leave them close to being the finished article.

David Scanlon is determined to lead his side to the title, they have shown on many occasions that they have the side to beat anyone in the division and they may win this one.

Prediction: Bready.