ARDMORE PULL CLEAR IN PROMOTION RACE WHILE THREE THROUGH IN SHIELD

As expected the last remaining Division 2 side in the Northern Bank Senior Cup, Sion Mills, took their leave of the competition on Saturday when they were no match for fellow Tyrone outfit Donemana.

The hosts, still without key men John Brown and Lee McGonagle were always going to be up against it, especially after Richard Kee won the toss and opted to bat. Andy McBrine's unbeaten 117 along with half centuries for openers Graeme Boyd and Ryan Hunter helped Donemana to 299 for 4 in their 50 overs but despite that the hosts' bowlers put in a very good shift, Lee Finlay the pick of them as he claimed 2 wickets.

Set 300 to win Sion would have needed to bat three times to get them and the second innings was a non-event, the Mill men finishing 190 adrift.

There were only two league games at the weekend and Ardmore pulled 4 points clear at the top of the table as they saw off the challenge of fellow promotion contenders Drummond.

The visitors batted first and made 181 thanks to an excellent knock of 61 from Phil Patterson while Graeme Anderson was the pick of the home attack with 3 for 40.

Drummond were well in contention throughout the reply however; Philip Moon top scoring with 47 and Gordon Cooke making 33 but when they departed Ardmore moved in for the kill.

The Bleachgreen side held on for a nervy 14-run win that saw the make it four wins from four league games and already clear signs that George Brolly's side are among the favourites for a return to the top flight.

In the only other league game Killyclooney continued their recent improvement with a thumping win at home to The Nedd.

Greg Stewart hit 11 fours and 4 sixes in making 93 for the hosts while Mark Gordon and Richard Barr added half centuries in a huge total of 298. Keith Burns, Creighton Wilson, Vinny O'Hara and Gareth Burns all picked up 2 wickets each for the Kings Lane side but their toil seemed to impact on the reply.

Only Kyle Morrow with 30 offered anything in the way of resistance as Mark Gordon made it a day to remember returning magnificent figures of 6 for 19 as the visitors were dismissed for just 117.

Sunday's Ulster Shield games saw local sides come out on top in three of the seven contests as Killyclooney, The Nedd and St Johnston went through on a day hampered by adverse weather.

The latter pair made it through to Round 2 on the back of bowl-out successes against Holywood and Millpark respectively whilst Killyclooney continued on their merry way with an impressive 2-wicket win over Cliftonville.

Creevedonnell and Sion Mills lost bowl-outs to Woodvale and Templepatrick while Ardmore lost to Saintfield in the last over of a tight game.

Burndennett were unable to field a full side for the trip to Derriaghy and had already withdrawn from the tournament.

The busy schedule continues for the regions cricketers this coming weekend with action spread over two days; Saturday sees the start of the Sammy Jeffrey Memorial shield before the onus returns to the race for promotion twenty four hours later.

In Saturday's shield competition, holders Burndennett are up against it as they start their defence and having lost the spine of last year's team during the winter they couldn't have asked for a sterner test than a trip to Ardmore.

The Bleachgreen side looks well capable of a sustained challenge on all fronts this season whereas the visitors don't seem to know where that elusive first win is coming from.

The Nedd will also fancy their chances against Sion Mills although Vinny O'Hara's side hasn't got off to the start most would have expected. They remain very capable however and will certainly start favourites to reach the last four.

Creevedonnell, who boast a wonderful record in this competition will travel to a Killyclooney side that has now won back-to-back league matches, beating Burndennett and The Nedd. The hosts though look a decent side when things fall right and they too ought to progress.

The hardest game of the day to call could be at St Johnston where Drummond are the visitors. Both sides have started reasonably well and this will be a good test for Gordon Cooke as he bids to see how much his boys have improved this year.

The Donegal side does exactly what it says on the tin and will prove a tough nut to crack but their bowling needs to be better than it was in defeat to Ardmore last week.

Sunday's league matches feature Ardmore at home to Sion Mills and once again the hosts look to have an ideal opportunity to keep the pressure on at the top of the table against a side that continues to struggle without Brown and McGonagle. George Brolly knows that if his team harbours genuine aspirations of another crack at the top flight, these are the games that they have to stamp their class on.

The second of Sunday's matches sees Burndennett travel to The Nedd and here again you would have to say that all known form would point to a home win.

There should be much more to come from the Ballykelly side than we've seen so far but if they are to be involved in the shake up this year the hosts do need to start making their mark.