LEAGUE ACTION BACK IN VOGUE BUT ANOTHER BIG CUP DATE TOPS AGENDA

It's time to start catching up on the domestic league programme for most of the local sides this weekend but there also remains one outstanding piece of cup business as Fox Lodge host Donemana in the last remaining Northern Bank quarter final tie. With league matches set to be ongoing during midweek as well, this could be the time when title aspirations are decided however there is no real pattern to the table just yet other than Brigade and Strabane jostling for position at the top and Bonds Glen still searching for their first win. Here's a look then at at what's in store this coming Saturday-

NORTHERN BANK SENIOR CUP QUARTER FINAL

FOX LODGE V DONEMANA

What a game we have in store here as the progress of the Tyrone sides is highlighted in this fascinating cup clash at Ballymagorry. The Foxies are definitely the pretenders to the crown these days and Brian Allen has assembled a side very capable of threatening their neighbours long established dominance. The hosts batting is solid and the bowling boasts quality too but key to their success is the quality of their all-round status. Professional Darryl Brown is as comfortable with bat as ball and the same comment could easily be applied to Andrew McGinnis, Andy Britton, Johnny Robinson and Jason Milligan. Even skipper Allen has a dual role as he takes the gloves but the side has such balance that they look a threat to all. Mind you, they will have to face down a side that has bought this particular tee shirt a zillion times before and Richard Kee will be asking his old team mates how much they fancy it. The Holm club just seems to keep on producing and last week included 14 year-old William McBrine in their All-Ireland team at Merrion. Just when you think the reign may be coming to an end they always seem to have something else in reserve and to be fair to them you look around the Donemana first team now and all of a sudden it's a young spine. Ryan Hunter, Ricky-Lee Dougherty, the three McBrine boys and Graeme Boyd all have many more years in front than behind and the future looks as bright as ever. Mind you, the old guard aren't bad either so Fox Lodge really do have their work cut out if they are to step from the shadows. Now is the time for the home side to show that they have the self belief to win the big games.

BILLY HENDERSON PROPERTIES DIVISION 1

EGLINTON v BONDS GLEN

Such is the competitive nature of the senior league this season that the Bee Gees list of targets for safety points seems to be becoming ever shorter. In past seasons we've had at least two clubs swapping relegation punches as the summer rolled on but there is so little to choose between the middle grouping this year that Gary Hamilton knows now his boys must get a win on the board sooner rather than later if they are to have any chance of staying up. Mind you, this is definitely one game that would have been on the pre-season radar and the skipper should have no difficulty in motivating the troops for the visit of Andy Christie's side. The villagers were in a similar situation themselves last year and will be fully aware of their hosts' plight but they will be keen to build on a decent start and will be fully aware that they are in the Bee Gees' sights. A year ago this would have been an interesting encounter, although to be fair, a year ago the sides met in the cup and the visitors won easily. It might not be quite so handy this time around but a home win is still the most likely outcome.

LIMAVADY V GLENDERMOTT

The Roesiders have picked up the pace after an unconvincing start to the season although the fact that skipper Andrew Riddles is unlikely to be up to full pace for some time yet following keyhole surgery on his knee is a drawback. There were high hopes of trophy success at the Hunter Grounds following two fairly unspectacular seasons and with this year's title race being so wide open, Limavady will feel they have as good a chance as any. Pivotal to their success will be the form of professional Adnan Akmal but the fact that pitches haven't really been conducive to run scoring has hampered the Pakistani early on. Stuart Thompson and Adam McDaid have definitely been the pick of the hosts players so far but the feeling is that there is more to come. Glendermott have started brightly enough themselves and skipper Gordon Montgomery will be pleased with their efforts so far. In Stephen Smyth they have a player capable of winning games on his own but it has been a quiet time of things for the all-rounder as well. He could be in the mood against one of his old clubs of course but strictly on the book, Limavady would be favourites.

STRABANE V BRIGADE

In terms of the destination of the senior championship it is unlikely to be decided in one day but in terms of psychological advantage advantage they don't come much bigger than this. The defending champions against the side desperately keen to take the title away; the two sides to contest last year's senior cup final and the two sides slugging it out at the top of this year's standings- it is that big. There will be no surprises in personnel of course as both camps stick with the tried and tested but what makes the showdown so fascinating is the fact that their strengths and weaknesses are in complete contrast. Strabane's batting order- Niall McDonnell, Kevin Martin. Jonathan Beukes, Peter Gillespie, Mark Gillespie and Mark Roulston is as strong as any in the region, whereas their bowling relies heavily on Phil Eaglestone and Martin Deans. It's the other way around in the Beechgrove camp with a bowling line up of Johnny Thompson, Iftikhar Hussein, Trevor Britton, Graeme Moore, Ata-Ur-Rehman and Ryan Brace but if Hussain or Chris Dougherty don't get runs it is difficult to see who will. Two wins for the champions last weekend means that the pressure could be on the visitors a little. The win at Fox Lodge in particular will have lifted confidence levels and while Brigade are in good form themselves, Strabane start favourites.