Eglinton crowned Senior Two champs

The Villagers now have their sights firmly fixed on the upcoming play-off against either Fox Lodge or Glendermott the weekend after next.

The league crown was actually secured last Thursday night at the Boathole when Eglinton won a final-over thriller against nearest rivals St Johnston in a game that finished in near darkness. David MacBeth with 35 and Alan MacBeth (21) helped the Saints to101 for 6 from their 20 overs in that one but the Villagers got themselves in a right tangle in their reply. At 22 for 4 they looked in all sorts of trouble before Christopher Pierce and Stephen Smyth rescued the situation with an 80-run unbroken stand. That was enough to secure the prize for the Villagers who then put their unbeaten league campaign on the line when they entertained David MacBeth’s team again on Saturday in the reverse fixture.

Most observers agree that the second match was the best game of cricket they have seen in years after the two sides made 613 runs between them and were separated by just 1 at the end. Jamie Millar top scored for the hosts with 74 while Stephen Smyth (64), Chris Pierce (59) and Andy Christie (42) all made valuable contributions to their 307-7 in 50 overs. David MacBeth picked up four wickets and Ryan MacBeth 2 but many felt the match was over as a contest at that stage.

The Saints skipper had other ideas however and played the innings of his life to get his team back into it. Michael Rankin with 36 and Ian MacBeth (29) chipped in but David’s 155 which included 15 fours and 3 sixes threatened to end Eglinton’s unbeaten run. Unfortunately for the Saints their skipper was out just three runs short of the target and the last pair couldn’t get them home, with just a single between them at the end.

Receiving the Senior Two trophy, Villagers’ captain O’Doherty paid tribute to the Donegal team for what he describes as “Two fantastic games of cricket,” before acknowledging his own side who are of course thoroughly deserving winners of the title, having won all 11 games so far.

Down at Drummond, Sion Mills looked like they were already preparing for the winter as they were hammered by Gordon Cooke’s team. Johnny Havern made an unbeaten 40 for the Tyrone side but that was by some distance the only noteworthy contribution to their total of 85 all out. Mark Averill claimed five wickets and Damien Carlin, enjoying a really good season for the Roe Valley men added 3 more to his tally. Drummond were in no mood to hang about either and the reply was impressive with Michael Lynch hitting an unbeaten 40 and Philip Moon 27 not out in a 9-wicket romp that took just 40 balls to compile.

Burndennett are another side to have enjoyed a really good summer and Mark Doherty’s team moved into second spot in the table after thumping already relegated Killyclooney. John McGettigan top scored with an aggressive 78 for the hosts while another player to have started to make his mark this season, Ross McCay made 62. Stephen McCay and Aidan Boyle chipped in with cameos as the visitors made a daunting 281 for 9 in their 50 overs while for Killyclooney Richard Barr, Mark Gordon, Davy Riddles and Richard McMorris all claimed two wickets each.

The reply never really got started in truth and despite 23 from skipper McMorris the basement side were a long way adrift at the end. McGettigan added a 5-wicket haul to his half century in an excellent all-round performance from him while Mark Porter and Aidan Boyle picked up two- apiece in a stroll.