Villagers just too strong

The villagers won by 24 runs, in the process booking their place in the All-Ireland semi-final against Pembroke in Dublin on Thursday.

The final had been postponed on numerous occasions because of bad weather and perhaps there were a few nerves in the Waringstown camp as they posted 121 for five batting first in their 20 overs.

Adam Dennison top scored with 44 including four boundaries while James Mitchell and Ross Waite made 19 and 17 respectively.

If the villagers weren’t quite at their best it was still a fine total and a significant one for North Down to chase. Their run chase got off to a decent start but some superb Waringstown fielding stopped them in their tracks, with Dennison taking two stunning catches.

North Down gradually fell further and further behind the asking rate and eventually closed well adrift on 97 for eight.

Mitchell claimed two for 15, Dennison two for 14, Steffan Heyburn one for 13 and Aaron Wright one for 16.

Coach Garfield Harrison paid tribute to his team. He said, “I’m delighted because they have been absolutely brilliant all year. We were put under pressure by a very combative North Down team who bowled and fielded really well but the boys really deserved this.

“We have got a really good group at under-15s and hopefully they will go on to bigger and better things.”

Waringstown: Adam Dennison, Sam Wilson, Matthew Hurst, James Mitchell, Ross Waite, Craig Kennedy, Aaron Wright, Ben Carson, Steffan Heyburn, Marcus McClean, Stuart Harrison.