It was cup action all the way for Division 2 sides on Saturday as the three preliminary round ties in the Northern Bank senior cup were all completed on schedule. Struggling Burndennett hosted The Nedd and despite an improved showing from the home side the Kings Lane men posted a 3-wicket win that sees them travel to Limavady on Sunday for an altogether different challenge. Burndennett were all out for 123 at the weekend; Stephen McCay with 25 the only run maker of note while Keith Burns with 5 for 24 was the most successful bowler for the visitors. Creighton Wilson and Johnny Murray picked up two apiece but The Nedd made fairly heavy weather of their response. Alex Steele’s 32 was the high point as the visitors lost 7 wickets en route to the next round with the ever improving Jamie Millar chipping in with 23 and Kyle Morrow 21. Eddie McGettigan with 3 for 16 and Johnny Devine (2 for 32) were the pick of the home side’s bowling as Burndennett certainly made the winners work.

Ardmore ran out clear cut winners in the big game of the day as an Adrian Murphy century set them up to post an imposing total at home to Creevedonnell. Murphy hit 15 fours and 4 sixes in his 114, sharing in a 148-run third wicket partnership with Mark Chambers who made 39. Gary Neely bowled well again to claim 3 for 29 with Richard Philson picking up 2 for 18 as Ardmore made 248 for 8 in their 50 overs. Creevedonnell’s reply rarely got going and the only contributions of note were 29 from Dale Thomas and 28 from Nicky Cooke as they slumped to 128 all out in 35 overs. Sean Gormley with 4 for 17 and Conor Brolly (4 for 19) bowled really well for the Bleachgreen side who had 120 runs to spare at the end.

There was another convincing win in the final contest of the day as Drummond overcame a fancied St Johnston side to book a trip to Coleraine in Round 2. Craig Hartin made 49 at the top of the order for the hosts before former Ireland International Gordon Cooke took the game by the scruff of the neck. Cooke hit an unbeaten 116 that included 10 fours and a six as Drummond recovered from an inauspicious start to make 229 for 9 in their allotted overs. Rene Cole was the pick of the Saints’ bowling with 3 for 48 while Rammohan Goud and Andrew Fleming claimed 2 wickets each.

Despite a defiant 34 from skipper Fleming the Saints were never at the races in the run chase and managed just 119 in reply. Graeme Anderson with 4 for 42 was the most successful bowler for the home side although Jason Scott and Stevie Moore added 3 wickets apiece.

Next weekend the focus switches back to league action but unfortunately only 3 matches look likely to go ahead at this stage. Where possible the fixture secretaries are trying to pair up the team with no scheduled game and the side that had been due to play Ballyspallen, however several players from The Nedd had already made plans for their free weekend and the clubs won’t be asked to play at this time.

Ardmore will look to maintain their winning start when they host Killyclooney on Saturday and although the Bleachgreen side will start favourites they will be taking nothing for granted. George Brolly’s side struggled early on in their opening match at home to The Nedd before the introduction of Ciaran McDermott and Lee Brolly into the attack brought about a collapse. The visitors were involved in a high scoring game at home to Drummond on the opening day and despite half centuries from James Colhoun and Mark Gordon they lost out by just 13 runs to Gordon Cooke’s team. Ardmore should win this if they are at the top of their game whereas the visitors will want to see the back of Adrian Murphy pretty quickly if they are to cause an upset.

The big game this weekend is at Creevedonnell where the opening day’s two most emphatic winners and leading promotion fancies will lock horns. The hosts brushed aside a badly weakened Burndennett side first time out; new signing Gary Neely ripping through their batting to return figures of 8 for 16 and the former Ireland International looks like wreaking havoc at this level during the summer. Stephen Scroggie might well fancy his side’s chances this year but they will have their credentials much more seriously tested when St Johnston come calling on Saturday. Andrew Fleming’s side can beat anyone in this division when they’re in the mood and they posted a healthy win over Sion Mills in their first game and there are few changes to the team that marched through the league uninterrupted in 2009. If the hosts are to claim the points they will need to keep the three MacBeths, Sachin Dixit and skipper Fleming a lot quieter. Both sides will have to put Saturday’s fairly heavy cup losses behind them and although it’s impossible to call, the visitors start marginal favourites.

Saturday’s final scheduled contest sees Drummond host Sion Mills and although the visitors were well beaten in their opener there is no doubt that John Brown is continuing to build a team looking to the future. Lee McGonagle was sidelined due to injury last time but with the likes of Brown and Lee Finlay around the younger players won’t want for leadership. The home side have already beaten Killyclooney and Gordon Cooke has a fairly decent blend of youth and experience to call on. Stevie Moore’s five wicket haul was the catalyst for their opening win and with he, skipper Cooke and Craig Hartin pulling the strings they will be nobody’s mugs again in 2011. Drummond should collect the points but it won’t be easy.