Ulster Shield heart break for Eglinton

THIS week’s fixtures in the Long’s Supervalu Senior Two starts in midweek as Burndennett take on Sion Mills with the visitors looking for one more win to cap a reasonable season. Burndennett of course have their own motivation with second place still very much up for grabs so it could be quite an entertaining match.

Strangely enough there are no matches on Saturday although St Johnston and Burndennett may opt to play their T/20 replay rather than both be idle.

The Saints are in action on Sunday when there is every likelihood that Killyclooney will be put out of their misery as the season draws towards the defining moments.

While it was certainly a case of highs and lows for Senior Two sides last weekend and none more so than Eglinton whose double-header cup final programme turned out to be a a real bitter-sweet affair.

The Villagers were in Sammy Jeffrey action against Drummond on Saturday in a game described as “poignant” by skipper Karl O’Doherty coming as it did so soon after the death of former Eglinton wicket-keeper Lawrence King.

The hosts were soon in the groove once they were able to bat first and Andrew Pierce gave a glimpse of what a potential talent he could be with a superb knock at the top of the order. The youngster made a really impressive 85 showing little sign of being overawed in any fashion and he was given solid support by Andy Christie who hit 64 and Richard Wylie who made 61. The latter has had a fantastic season now that he seems to have settled back home and their combined efforts allowed Eglinton to set a daunting 261 for 4 in the 40 overs.

The visitors were in arrears pretty much from the start and they looked a spent force fairly early in the piece. Skipper Steve Moore was by some way best with the bat in making 37 as two wickets apiece for Nigel Thompson, Ross Allen, Neal Stewart and that man Wylie eased the home team to a convincing win.

Contrast that with Sunday and the Ulster Shield final however as O’Doherty’s side locked horns with Muckamore at the Hunter Grounds in Limavady. Two very early wickets for Wylie had the NCU men in all sorts of bother before Indrajeet Kamtekar and Conor Breet set about repairing the damage. Professional Kamtekar hit 7 fours and a six in his 63 while Breet found the rope just four times in his 60 but on a day when real fluency was at a premium, 183 for 5 looked useful.

Eglinton applied themselves well in the chase with in-form Wylie (47) and Christopher Pierce (37) keeping them on course early on. Stephen Smyth then took on the mantle of trying to bring the shield to the North West for the first time but some tight bowling kept the visitors inches ahead on the run rate. Heading to the last over Eglinton needed 10 to win which subsequently came down to five needed from the last ball with Smyth on strike.

The former Ireland International gave it all he had and found the boundary all right but only with a four. That left the scores tied and the Belfast side picked up the spoils courtesy of having lost fewer wickets in their innings. It was a sickening way to lose for Eglinton but at least now the skipper will be able to rally the troops for a shot at the one prize they have eyed all season - a return to Division 1 cricket.

There was league action over the weekend as well albeit no play was possible at St Johnston where the Donegal side were due to host Burndennett knowing only a win would prevent the villagers from wrapping up the title.

Ardmore were in action on both days as Lee Brolly’s side wound up their disappointing league campaign but they wiped away any chance of being involved in a relegation scrap with thoroughly convincing wins over Killyclooney and Sion Mills respectively. Richard McMorris’s side have struggled badly this season and it was more of the same this time as only Greg Stewart and the skipper got starts in their 92 all out. Martin Gormley again led the Ardmore attack well as he claimed 4 wickets while George Brolly and Conor Brolly added 3 and 2 respectively.

The Bleachgreen side made light work of the chase too; Adrian Murphy with an unbeaten half century in a 9-wicket romp that meant Killyclooney need to win all three of their remaining games to have even a sniff of retaining their senior status. Ardmore were equally convincing in hammering Sion Mills on Sunday with Paul McDowell and Murphy both making half centuries while George Brolly claimed another five wickets.

That result means that Sion still need a win or another loss for Killyclooney to be sure of surviving but either way they look certain to live to fight another day. Who knows what the season could have had in store had Ardmore found this form earlier but they can at least go away and regroup over the winter after a successful back nine.

To be fair to Killyclooney they have lost the equivalent of two senior teams in the past three years and it is a credit to them that they have kept going but the re-build is now going to be vital.