Tense times ahead as clubs battle for senior futures

Karl O’Doherty’s men are scheduled to meet Donemana in Round Two and The Nedd’s situation also now means that Burndennett also have a bye into the second stage where they will play the winners of the one surviving first round game between Drummond and Ardmore.

Despite the reverse on Saturday, Ardmore’s new captain Lee Brolly was upbeat about the club’s chances for the rest of the season starting in the cup next weekend.

“It was a difficult day for us as we lost Mark Brolly with a hamstring injury in the run up to the game and that affected the balance in the batting order.

“We had no pre-season because of the weather and in fact with several of our players working in Belfast and Dublin this was probably the first time everyone had been together. I have no intention of making excuses for the defeat; we played on the mat, the outfield was very slow and our batsmen just got very frustrated.

“I was really pleased with our bowling despite only taking three wickets but I felt that if we had got Andrew or David before they were in that we could have well have defended that 133.

“Despite the loss we will definitely be able to take plenty of positives from the contest, none more so than the performance of Peter Harrigan (junior). Peter is just 16 years old but he batted superbly and he definitely keeps his place in the team for the cup game at Drummond.”

Turning to this coming Saturday and the spinner felt that the game afforded his team the chance to get back on track after the opening day reverse. “If I am completely honest I would admit that the senior cup would not be top of our list of priorities. I want to win on Saturday simply because we have only 11 games left already so the mores games we play the better. Obviously we want to do well in the league also but again I won’t lose any sleep if we don’t get promoted. As a group we want to do well in the new National Cup and although the NCU and Leinster Unions will undoubtedly be stronger given the fact that they already play in an 8-team league it will give us an opportunity to test ourselves at a good level.”

Cup success this season obviously appeals to Lee and with his team involved in plenty of competitions he made it clear he wants to bring at least one of them back to the Bleachgreen: “I think its important that we find the trophy-winning mentality because we have players here who could have a big future in North West senior cricket and we want to keep them. Conor Brolly seems to have been around for ages but is still only 18 and his brother Ryan (14) will get his chance too and we’ve already spoken about Peter Harrigan.

“We will give it our best in every competition we’re involved in but I am particularly hopeful of a good run in the Sammy Jeffrey and Sperrin Springs cups. Before that of course we have the game at Drummond this Saturday and I have no doubt that we will get better as the season progresses, therefore we go there looking to win.”