The 2011 Northern Bank senior cup final got under way in ideal conditions at Eglinton on Friday with league leaders Donemana looking to repeat their 2009 triumph over Tyrone neighbours Bready.

The Magheramason side's skipper Trevor Hamilton deliberated for a moment before deciding to take first use and it wasn't difficult to explain his hesitation as Ritchie McBrine and Dwayne McGarrigle certainly benefited from some early assistance. McBrine indeed gave his side the perfect start when trapping Brian Scalon leg before in the very first over and McGarrigle had both Clarke and Rankin looking decidedly edgy in the next.

Both survived the early scare however and the two men many believed held the key to Bready's chances were soon playing their shots. Rankin in particular looked in excellent touch but a change of bowling then did for Clarke as Kamran Sajid got among the wickets. The Pakistani followed that up with the scalp of his opposite number, Agha Sabir Ali, undone by a superb one-handed catch in the slips by Dwayne McGarrigle as Bready slumped to 70 for 3.

Rankin though dug in and reached his half century in a very unusual manner with a seven hit, 3 run and 4 overthrows as Bready's hopes looked dependant on him. Joined by Brian Crumley however that pair then gave their team a wonderful platform with a stand of 160; Crumley belying his inexperience at this level with a superb display of stroke-play as Donemana struggled to keep them in check.

Rankin brought up his century in style clubbing Jordan McGonagle for two sixes over long on in quick succession but was then given a life when trying for a third but only finding Sajid on the boundary. The Pakistani didn't judge the catch correctly though and succeeded only in dropping the ball over the rope. The reprieve lasted just a few more balls however as Robert Huey ended the opener's superb knock bending back his off stump as Rankin tried to give himself room.

In the end Rankin's tally was 126 including 15 fours, 3 sixes and that 7in an innings that certainly gave his side the initiative. Crumley managed to get his “ton” as well, 13 fours and a six in a magnificent innings that fully justified his inclusion as Bready went over the 300 mark with a tidy cameo of 27 not out from James Long. Kamran Sajid was the pick of the Donemana attack with 4 for 53 but this was 50 overs that belonged to Rankin, Crumley and Bready.

Bready had gambled in going into the game with just two recognised seamers and although Graeme Boyd and Richard Kee posted a 49-run first wicket stand, the former was then found out by Brian Scanlon for 24as Donemana lost wickets early on.

Skipper Kee followed shortly afterwards and Ricky-Lee Dougherty made just one, both falling to Trevor Hamilton, and with the run rate falling behind as well, Bready had their noses in front. Kamran Sajid and Junior McBrine battened down the hatches with a 79-run 4th wicket stand but the Magheramason men's attack contained them really well.

Donemana had to do something to up the rate and McBrine lost his wicket going after Sabir but Sajid continued to struggle against the spin, missing out on a succession of full tosses. Marc Fleming was coming in for a bit of tap but the youngster then stopped Donemana in their tracks by removing the dangerous Dwayne McGarrigle and James McBrine in consecutive overs.

That left the Holm men on 170 for 6 with just 9 overs left and facing a sizeable first innings deficit but crucially Sajid was still there. Ritchie McBrine came and went before Dale Olphert and Sajid posted a 56-run partnership that gave Donemana a glimmer and Jordan McGonagle landed a couple of meaty ones in the last over to close the gap to 55 runs.

Sajid was unbeaten on 82 in the end and while its hard to be critical after that type of innings, he should have been worth a few more. As the stumps were pulled on Friday evening however there was almost a suggestion that both sides had settled for that.


At Eglinton, Bready v Donemana

BREADY
D Rankin b Huey 126
B Scanlon lbw b R McBrine 0
S Clarke c Dougherty b Sajid 15
A Sabir Ali c McGarrigle b Sajid 1
B Crumley c McGarrigle b Jun McBrine 100
M Olphert c Kee b Sajid 17
J Long not out 27
D Scanlon c Dougherty b Sajid 0
T Hamilton not out 9
Extras 9

Total (50 overs, 7 wkts) 304

Fall 1-4 2-58 3-70 4-230 5-258 6-272 7-272

Bowling- R McBrine 4-0-28-1; D McGarrigle 7-0-44-0; K Sajid 10-1-53-4 ; G Boyd 4-0-22-0; Jun McBrine 8-1-42-1; Jas McBrine 5-0-24-0; J McGonagle 7-1-48-0; R Huey 5-0-39-1

DONEMANA
R Kee b Hamilton 28
G Boyd c Olphert b B Scanlon 24
K Sajid not out 82
RL Dougherty c Rankin b Hamilton 1
Jun McBrine c Rankin b Sabir 26
D McGarrigle c Clarke b Fleming 11
Jas McBrine c D Scanlon b Fleming 0
R McBrine c Olphert b D Scanlon 8
D Olphert run out 26
J McGonagle not out 13
Extras 31
Total (50 overs, 8 wkts) 249

Fall 1-49 2-59 3-61 4-140 5-158 6-170 7-184 8-240