Waterside boys move back on top

There was one league game on Saturday and Glendermott seized the chance to go back to the top of the table after they handed out a drubbing to out-of-sorts Killyclooney at the Rectory.
St. Johnston's Ian McBeth pictured in action against Glendermott during their North West T20 Eric Cooke Memorial Cup final match against Glendermott. INLS3314-139KMSt. Johnston's Ian McBeth pictured in action against Glendermott during their North West T20 Eric Cooke Memorial Cup final match against Glendermott. INLS3314-139KM
St. Johnston's Ian McBeth pictured in action against Glendermott during their North West T20 Eric Cooke Memorial Cup final match against Glendermott. INLS3314-139KM

The visitors were warming up for Sunday’s National Cup semi-final with Woodvale but they were unable to get back on the winning trail and were easily picked off by the leaders.

Skipper Mark Gordon batted well for his 47 but apart from him, John McCreanor (35) and Alan Colhoun (24) there was little else to be chirpy about as they were all out for a modest 163.

Stuart Cochrane and Alan Johnson claimed two wickets apiece and the home side would have been pleased with their work at the break. Andrew Baggley opened the innings for Glendermott and made 21 in reply but that was to be as good as it got for ’Clooney. That man Silva was up to his old tricks once more as the hosts warmed up for their first of three successive meetings with St Johnston with an explosive response. Silva hit 10 fours and 6 sixes in his unbeaten 83 (from 31 balls) while Simon Killen was also in impressive form as he made an unbeaten 56. That allowed the Bonds Street boys to saunter to an easy 9-wicket win and into the driving seat for the last lap of the promotion race.

Burndennett made sure their hat stayed in the ring on Sunday as well as they easily saw off the challenge of Bonds Glen.

Ash Buchanan was again among the runs as he top scored with 39 for the home side while Roy Robinson’s unbeaten 37 helped them up to 135 for 9 in a match reduced to 20 overs a side because of the rain. John McGettigan (3-12), Mark Porter (3-14) and Stephen McCay (2-34) did the bulk of the damage for Burndennett in a solid showing with the ball.

The visitors are in a rich vein of form at present and they made short work of the chase as Stephen McCay got them going with 35 at the top of the order.

Graeme Boyd (2-9) gave the home side a brief glimmer of hope but an excellent 99-run stand between Mark Doherty (43 not out) and John McGettigan (41 not out) allowed Mark Roulston’s men to post an emphatic 7-wicket win.