Fergie’s boys win first senior trophy

It wasn’t quite a similar story at Eglinton on Sunday but the rain finally won there too as the final of the Faughan Valley Sperrin Springs Cup was decided on a bowl-out.

Despite having been formed just two years ago Newbuildings found themselves in a senior final. Mind you they got off to a bad start, turning up in coloured clothing for a “whites” final but organisers decided that discretion was the better part of valour and let the game go ahead.

The Qualifying One side has been on the march in the league this season and they gave a real good account of themselves here too - recovering from the loss of Peter Allen from the first ball of the match to post a good score.

Gary Neely was the bowler responsible and the former Ireland man also removed Stephen Wallace in his first spell to leave Newbuildings 14 for 2 before Dean Mehaffey and Jason Browne levelled things up. Browne made 24 in a 58-run stand between that pair and when he departed Mehaffey was joined by his brother Martin and the siblings batted their team into a commanding position. Dean hit 5 fours in his impressive 47 while Martin was the more attacking with 3 sixes and 2 fours in his 39. All of that meant that the new boys closed on a very respectable 139 for 5 in their 20 overs.

The Curryfree Road side needed a good start in their reply but Graeme Robb had other ideas and two quick wickets for him had the batting side in trouble. Unfortunately however the heavy rain struck just as Newbuildings had got on top and at 27-4 after four overs the Championship team were happy to run for shelter.

To their credit they started again and many will feel that justice was done in the shoot-out.

Jason Browne, Stephen Wallace and Graeme Robb all hit the target for Newbuildings while Creevedonnell didn’t manage any, leaving the new boys to pick up their first ever senior trophy.