Glendermott on the march

The hosts are in good shape at present and their solid bowling unit looks like being too strong for the badly out of sorts Tyrone team.

The visitors really need to get that first win under their belt sooner rather than later but despite their plight they are unlikely to get much sympathy here.

Drummond and St Johnston could well provide the game of the day as they lock horns in the Roe Valley and this is a game that the home side really needs to win if they are to feature in the title race. The Saints will obviously be buoyed by their huge win at home to CSNI on Sunday so they will be bang up for this and probably start slight favourites.

Bonds Glen and Killyclooney could be another tightly contested affair as both look to stay on the leaders’ coat tails while Creevedonnell and Burndennett complete the list in another match that could go either way.

It was a thoroughly entertaining weekend of cricket for Championship sides with a full programme of league games on Saturday followed 24 hours later by the first round of the O’Neill’s Ulster Shield.

The big game on Saturday saw the two unbeaten teams - Killyclooney and Glendermott clash in Tyrone and it was the visitors who emerged with their record intact.

Simon Killen’s return to the top of the order and his half century at the start set the tone for a competitive total. Charlie Elder added 45 in the middle as the Rectory side finally managed to fall over the 200-barrier.

Skipper Mark Gordon is one of a trio of players who have been among the runs for Killyclooney so far and he completely dominated the reply with an excellent 64. Gordon apart however the hosts’ batsmen were unable to cope with Alan Johnson and Roy Silva, eventually falling 77 runs short on a day when Glendermott showed that they are without doubt the team to beat in the promotion race.