New Donemana generation ready to make an impression

The RSA Irish Senior Cup takes centre stage this Saturday with five local sides at home and five on their travels.
Donemana's Ricky Lee Dougherty flicks this one away during their Sam McConnell Memorial Premiership Charity Cup tie against Coleraine, on Sunday.Donemana's Ricky Lee Dougherty flicks this one away during their Sam McConnell Memorial Premiership Charity Cup tie against Coleraine, on Sunday.
Donemana's Ricky Lee Dougherty flicks this one away during their Sam McConnell Memorial Premiership Charity Cup tie against Coleraine, on Sunday.

Donemana make the long journey to play Cork County at the Mardyke but should return with a victory as the Munster men rarely get past the first round.

North County v Ardmore

The home side have won this competition on a number of occasions and will be favourites to progress. Two of their stalwarts Conor Armstrong and John Mooney are still with the club, while they also have Australian Tim Aflex in their ranks.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ardmore will probably be without Decker Curry but as they showed in their opening fixture they do have a fair bit of talent in their ranks.

Prediction: North County.

The Hills v Glendermott

The Dubliners are one of the favourites to go all the way, they have Irish international Max Sorenson opening the bowling with their professional Nicholas Pretorious reportedly to be an excellent cricketer.

Glendermott have won their opening two games in the championship with Roy Silva back with the club and already amongst the runs, they won’t go down without a fight.

Prediction: The Hills.

Fox Lodge v Leinster

The Foxies with home advantage will fancy themselves in this one. They have retained most of last season’s side and added a new professional, Jason Milligan who was in sparkling form with the bat in last Saturday’s inter pro.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Leinster have Adam Ward as their pro with another overseas player in Viver Iyengar also expected to play, the Foxies might be good enough.

Prediction: Fox Lodge.

Brigade v Phoenix

The Beechgrove men have a good record in this competition and are previous winners. They have a quality side and look set for a successful season. Johnny Thompson is on fire with both bat and ball.

The visitors are relying on youth this season although they do have a couple of experienced players in their line-up, the home side should be to strong.

Prediction: Brigade.

Lurgan v Strabane

Lurgan play their cricket in Section One in the Northern Union and they chased 286 last week to win by six wickets with a number of their batsmen making solid scores.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Red Caps have added Johnny Robinson and Ryan Gallagher to their squad this season and may have Kevin Martin back.

Prediction: Strabane.

CSNI v St Johnston

Civil Service will be hot favourites to make the next round, they have a lot of quality in their ranks with players of the calibre of Nigel Jones, Charlie Beverland to name just two.

St Johnston are a side packed with young talent and they will enjoy the experience of playing on an international ground but that’s where it ends.

Prediction: CSNI.

Eglinton v North Down

The Villagers will be looking forward to pitting their wits against one of the top sides in the NCU. They will be looking for big performances form Stuart Thompson, Christopher Pierce and Stephen Smyth.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Comber side are full of quality and Johnny Territt, Timur Khan and Ryan Haire will be dangerous. On a beautiful track their should be plenty of runs.

Prediction: North Down.

Coleraine v CIYMS

Arguably the tie of the round as both these sides have got their season off to a flyer. The Bannsiders picked up their first piece of silverware last Sunday defeating Donemana in the Sam McConnell Memorial cup and there could be more to come.

There are four former North West players in the visitor’s ranks: Captain Chris Dougherty, Trevor Britton, Steven Clarke and Stephen Dunn backed up by professional Ricky van der Dussen make them formidable opposition.

Prediction: Coleraine.

Bready v Ballymena

The Magheramason side were dealt a body blow with the injury to star man David Rankin, who broke his thumb while fielding in the interpro, however skipper David Scanlon will be looking for his troops to react positively.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Braid men managed just 91 for eight in last week’s defeat at home to Lisburn, they are one of the weaker Northern Union sides which makes the home side favourites.

Prediction: Bready.

Cork County v Donemana

The Munster men have employed a professional this time round and it is a credit to them that they are keeping the game going in that part of the country.

Donemana have brought in another couple of talented youngsters which augurs well for the future, they travel on Friday morning and should return triumphant.

Prediction: Donemana.

Related topics: