Curry inspires cup win

BRIGADE, runners-up in last week’s Northern Bank Senior Cup final, became ClubTurf Ulster champions for the third time, beating Civil Service North in a low-scoring but absorbing final, at Eglinton, on Sunday.

Left handed batsman Dean Curry rightfully picked up the man of the match award as he top scored for the Beechgrove men, scoring 34, to help them to what turned out to be winning 150 runs total.

While Coleraine took a two-point lead at the top of the Long’s Supervalu Senior One on Sunday night after thrashing title rivals Bready by 121 runs at Sandel Lodge.

Ian McGregor’s team were meant to be up against it without professional Chinthaka Jayasinghe, Ireland under-19 star Scott Campbell and seamer Stephen Dunn, but they administered a heavy beating that cast doubt on Bready’s title credentials.

On a pitch where scoring was never easy, David Cooke top scored for the home side with 45 from 99 balls in a Coleraine total of 188 for six in 50 overs.

Bready were dismissed for just 67 in reply, with Andrew Douglas claiming four for 18 off his nine overs and Rishi Chopra taking two for seven off 5.4. David Rankin top scored for Bready with a defiant 35 beforehe was seventh man out.

Limavady are well in the title hunt after beating Glendermott by 118 runs at The Rectory on Saturday.

Stuart Thompson top scored with 67 in a total of 315 for eight, and despite a fighting 82 from Simon Killen, the home side were dismissed for 197. Andy Britton, the Ireland A bowler, took five for 44.

Strabane stayed in touch after administering Bonds Glen’s 11th straight league defeat.

Peter Gillespie top scored with 84 as Strabane posted 220 for nine and Phil Eaglestone took seven for 24 as doomed Bonds Glen slumped to 89 all out in reply.

Champions Brigade are still contenders after a dramatic one-wicket win over Fox Lodge.

Mattie Moran hit 61 and Trevor Britton a crucial unbeaten 34 as they chased down a modest target of 181 with more than four overs to spare.

Donemana’s brave bid to reach a third Irish Cup final in the last five years is over after 2010 winners Merrion inflicted a six-wicket defeat at The Holm on Saturday.

With two trophies already to their name, Donemana were hoping to retain interest in a third, but they started this semi-final with their hands effectively tied behind their backs.

Ryan Hunter and Andy McBrine, two of the heroes of the quarter-final win over Railway Union, are in Australia with Ireland under-19s.

While young trio William McBrine and Gary and William McClintock were also unavailable.

The writing was on the wall once openers Kamran Sajjid and Graeme Boyd went without scoring and it wasn’t long before Donemana slumped to 52 for six as Alex Chetkovich took three for 34 and Dom Joyce four for 19.

Dwayne McGerrigle and Junior McBrine delayed the inevitable with a defiant 76-run partnership for the seventh wicket and at 128 for six, Donemana had hopes of reaching 200.

But McGerrigle (50) departed after hitting four fours and two sixes.

The first of four wickets to fall for just a single run as they were dismissed for 129.

Junior McBrine made 33 but Donemana were never likely to post anything respectable when six players failed to get off the mark.

On a helpful pitch, Merrion were aggressive from the start of their reply, with Rory Allright hitting nine fours and four sixes in an unbeaten 74.

Donemana did rally by taking four wickets, including two for second eleven regular Robert Huey.

But the result was never really in doubt and they bowed out of the competition after a gallant effort to try and get into another final.

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