Cup joy for Derriaghy

Derriaghy Seconds lifted the NCU Intermediate Cup for the third time with a four wicket win over Woodvale Seconds at Pollock Park last weekend.
Derriaghys 2nd XI with Intermediate Cup, along with NCU President Billy Boyd.Derriaghys 2nd XI with Intermediate Cup, along with NCU President Billy Boyd.
Derriaghys 2nd XI with Intermediate Cup, along with NCU President Billy Boyd.

The Seconds, who fielded a young team, ranging from 17 to 23, previously won the Cup in the 1990’s and 2007, just missing out once again in the final in 2010.

Stuart McAllister was chosen as the Man of the Match by NCU President Billy Boyd, after his quickfire 31 which gave Derriaghy the momentum to go on and win the match.

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David Scott, Captain of the Queensway men’s 2nd XI certainly has better memories from Saturday’s final than in 2010, when he was dropped for the final, and the young captain said he was “elated” to win the Cup.

David Scott said: “I think the average age of our team is 21, so we were all quite relaxed and looking to enjoy the day.

“There was no pressure on us. We knew Woodvale had the more experienced players, so no one was putting any pressure on us.

“On the day we went about our normal routine and had breakfast together.

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“We knew in terms of youthfulness that we had the upper hand but there was no real pressure on us to perform. We knew ourselves what we could do and what we couldn’t do,” the captain added.

“After the Firsts’ losing six finals in a row, it was about time the club came back with something,” Scott commented.

“Many of our players have played together and won at Under 15, Under 17 level, if we can keep this group of lads together we can get to finals and win. It is testimony to the youth set-up here and bleeding players into the senior teams.”

Speaking about the match, he stated: “I think we dropped a few catches early on, we dropped two catches in two balls and I thought, ‘This is not going to be our day’.

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“Then when they picked up the rate again when the majority of our scorers were out and we had our lower order batsmen in there were quite a lot of nerves on the sideline, especially with nine balls needed.

“When we won there was just absolute elation and relief.

“After losing the 2010 final, which some of the players had played in, to get over the line shows the club can win trophies. It’s a statement to the other teams that we are not just a perceived ‘pub team’ and that we can play.

“I think with the team being so young we can make many more finals,” Scott added.

“I’d like to thank David Skelton, Graham Kenny and Rodney Hughes, who brought us through the youth set-up and help us to organise everything, especially with me being a 20-year-old captain, it is good to have them to rely on.

“I’d also like to thank the team for fighting for every scrap and never saying never. When we looked down and out they fought hard and ultimately earned the win.”