MONKEY OFF BREADY'S BACK BUT CAN WE HAVE A NEW CUP?

Without wanting to dwell on this year's senior cup final which I'm sure has been well covered elsewhere, it would be remiss not to start by congratulating Bready on their first senior trophy in 15 years. The Magheramason boys have been threatening to win a big one for some time now and it certainly wasn't out of turn albeit their cause was aided by the Under 19 World Cup qualifiers. The irony of Andy McBrine picking up his man-of-the-match award at the same time as his club mates were collecting their runners-up medals will have been lost on no-one at the Holm but Trevor Hamilton's side were without doubt very worthy winners having stuck to their game plan. There are two things that do have to be remarked on in light of this year's final however and I sincerely hope that one of them stays and one of them goes. The first is the two day final format and despite the fact that there have been utterances in the past couple of years, for most people in the region at least, it has to stay. We don't mind being unique in this neck of the woods, indeed usually we thrive on it but as long as it doesn't rain (sunshine is as always a bonus) our two-innings decider remains the highlight of the domestic season. The senior cup final will become an entirely different occasion if and when that format ever changes. There seems little doubt that the ground developments at both Bready and Strabane will quite rightly see both clubs look to get their turn to host one as well but for now we can take nothing away from the job that the folks at Eglinton have done, and they did us proud here again.

There is something that could be doing with a change though and that is the old trophy itself. It is steeped in heritage and tradition without doubt but it is high time we got a new base, inscribed all the previous winners on it and then gave the battered and dented top half to someone to melt down and make a new one. Let's be honest here, the sands of time have left the cup looking like its been run over by two lorries and a tractor and on the back of the biggest cup final “gate” in recent years we must surely now be in a position to buy a new one. Maybe that should go forward to the rule change committee meeting as well although perhaps on second thoughts maybe best to leave it until another time as the rule change boys might need to go into a second innings as well, the way things are going.

Anyway, it's only 12 months until the next one so for now we can move on to more pressing matters and the ongoing Under-19 World Cup qualifiers. The Irish boys were involved in a couple of very close encounters in Dublin over the past few days, firstly against the USA and then against Afghanistan before edging through in both but they could certainly be doing with the support of the North West cricket public over the coming week as they bid to book their ticket to Australia for next year's finals. All the participating nations are now in the area for the last week of the tournament and both CricketIreland and the North West Union have been appealing to locals to come out and support the games. While encouraging as much backing as possible for the young hosts, organisers would like to see as many people as possible at all the matches as the North West looks to show the parent body that it has what it takes to host high profile cricket. Under the guidance of Jeremy Bray the Irish team are at Coleraine today (Wednesday), before a hectic schedule sees them at Limavady, Bready and Strabane respectively on consecutive days between Friday and Sunday. Ireland then close out their qualification programme at Eglinton next Tuesday by which time their fate will be known. Having escaped those early skirmishes unscathed, skipper George Dockrell will be keen to ensure that the boys don't let the opportunity slip and the standard of cricket is sure to continue to be very high. There is no charge to get in to watch the games so if you have an hour to spare any time over the coming week it would be no bad thing to check out the programme of matches and call in to lend your support.

Other pressing matters of course include the ongoing title race in both divisions of the Billy Henderson Properties league as well as that basement battle between the Bee Gees and Eglinton at the bottom of Senior 1. With a couple of matches still somehow outstanding from the first half of the season we should have a clearer picture of events at the business end after the ongoing clash between Brigade and Donemana at Beechgrove where a home win would put Mark Simpson's team in the driving seat as we enter the last month of the season. Thankfully however there is still plenty of cricket to be played and you wouldn't want to rule any of the top four out of title contention just yet. The Division 2 promotion race has been thrown wide open after Ardmore's wheels came off in July and the Bleachgreen side now have Creevedonnell to keep them company while St Johnston and Drummond are not out of it either. It's all shaping up nicely now but before league action takes over completely the North West will be hoping that Brigade can do us proud in the Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup on Sunday when they entertain a quality Waringstown side in what could turn out to be a cracking semi final tie. Despite being without the prolific Obus Pieenar the Belfast side is bursting with quality and will be a real handful but the hosts are no back number themselves and that one will be well worth watching.

Finally today, the one thing about senior cup final weekend is that it always brings the opportunity to catch up with a few familiar faces and there is usually a good wish or two to be sent out afterwards, and this year is no exception. During the course of the game, photographer Ricky Craig sustained a very nasty facial injury having been hit on the full just under the eye and was treated at a nearby clinic. Typical of Ricky though he was back for the presentation and snapping away despite being in obvious discomfort. I know of no-one who doesn't hold Ricky in the highest regard and the best wishes of all the cricket fraternity will be for a full and speedy recovery.

Also putting in an appearance at Eglinton at the weekend was Donemana exile Alana McGonagle. Now domiciled in Edinburgh Alana had to leave at 4.30 am on Friday morning to see her brother Jordan in action but I doubt if she even got to see much of the game as she had so many friends looking to catch up. And finally another Donemana stalwart, and probably best known of all, Doris McBrine celebrates her birthday today. Despite not seeing the boys picking up the cup this season Doris will at least have been heartened by the fact that the girls at Eglinton made her a presentation during the drinks break on Saturday. Best wishes to all of them and it's true what they say- it isn't always just about winning.