Villagers on the verge of Senior Two title joy

Karl O’Doherty’s side had taken the initiative last week when they won twice while St Johnston faltered against Burndennett and it was Eglinton’s turn to face Mark Doherty’s side this week.

The visitors got off to a really good start too with skipper Doherty (44) and Stephen McCay (34) giving them a solid platform. Ross McCay then added an excellent half century that included 7 fours as Burndennett threatened to go big before the villagers reined them back. Neal Stewart picked up four wickets and Stephen Smyth and Ross Allen two apiece as Burndennett’s lower order gave best, slumping from 110 for 1 to 181 all out.

The hosts would surely have been happy with that and Richard Wylie and Chris Pierce got the ball rolling in the reply. Pierce went for 33 but Wylie hit 13 fours on his way to 71 and an unbeaten 36 from Jamie Millar sealed a 6-wicket win. Both Wylie and Pierce are having fantastic seasons and the two now sit first and second in the scoring charts for the league, separated by just a single run. More important to them however will be the fact that despite having played two games more the leaders have clear blue water between themselves and their nearest challengers.

The Saints had blown their opportunity to close the gap on Saturday when losing for the second successive week, this time at Sion Mills. Kevin Gallagher was in great form for the hosts as he top scored with 52 while there was good support all round from the likes of young Craig Alexander and Simon Galloway.

Despite their problems in the last number of seasons the Tyrone side have been trying to re-build and introduce more youngsters from the village into the sport and their efforts have been rewarded with some big performances this summer. David MacBeth picked up three wickets for the Donegal men with David Lapsley claiming two more but not before Sion had posted a very competitive 229 for 9 in their 50 overs. Having come a cropper against Burndennett, last weekend St Johnston knew anything other than a win would all but end their title hops here and despite some of the top order getting starts, a steady fall of wickets wasn’t helping the cause.

David Lapsley top scored with 46 while the MacBeth brothers Ian (36) and Alan (30) chipped in but it was to be Gallagher and Sion’s day as he followed up his half century by returning figures of 3 for 12 with the ball.

Raymond Harpur was also on hand to claim two wickets but the Saints were to be left kicking their heels as they finished all out on 220 and a 9-run defeat.

Ardmore all but guaranteed their safety with a convincing win against a Drummond side that has now lost 4 of their last 5 matches. Ciaran Curley hasn’t played as much cricket as Ardmore would have hoped this season but he was on song here with a typically aggressive half century. Damien Carlin with four wickets and Gordon Cooke with three meant that Ardmore didn’t get too far away and at the half way stage their 154 all out looked modest enough.

Skipper Cooke and Steve Moore have been among the runs almost every week for the Roe Valley men and Moore was again to the fore here as he made 44 in the reply. Unfortunately for him however there was to be little support elsewhere as Drummond had no answer to another man who hasn’t played nearly enough cricket, Martin Gormley.

The seamer was too hot to handle for the visitors, eventually finishing with 5 for 41 and backed up by skipper Lee Brolly with 3 for 34 the Bleachgreen side posted an impressive and very valuable win.