Setting out at the end of April the focus among the top sides in Division 2 will have been another crack at the top flight and after a hard fought summer it was Creevedonnell who were to finish top of the heap.

The last time the Curryfree Road side won promotion was in a play-off against Brigade in 1980 when William Wilson was at the 'Donnell and co-incidentally the two sides swapped places again twelve months later as Wilson began his prolific career at Beechgrove.

Although that was just a one-season stay, hopes are high in the winners' camp that they can follow the Bee Gees lead in 2012 and give themselves a fighting chance of staying up. One again the similarities in the two divisional champions' seasons are there for all to see; Brigade winning Division 1 on the back of an excellent bowling return and Creevedonnell very much in the same category.

Truth to tell Stephen Scroggie's men's batting stats make really strange reading and despite playing just 10 matches, Alan Duddy was by miles their best. The former Brigade man scored a total of 439 in those ten innings but with 6 “not outs” in there he boasted a staggering average of almost 110.

Only Nicky Cooke, who enjoyed a very prolific season broke the 300-barrier after that although Myles Neely, Scroggie and Gareth Falconer all went over 250. Whilst Duddy's figures are superb you have to factor in that the Creevies bowled the opposition out for less than 100 runs in 9 of their 20 matches, so while the runs still had to be made, batting was probably a bit easier accordingly.

Gary Neely was brilliant with the new ball; 51 wickets at less than 8 runs apiece for the former Ireland man and with three 5-wicket hauls in there including a 6 for 8 and an 8 for 16! Neely found a willing partner in Cooke who claimed 34 wickets at just under 12 runs each and good to see Brian Dougherty bang in form too chipping in with 28 at a very tidy 14 apiece.

No doubt they're going to find things tougher than this in 2012 but no doubt either that they'll be doing their damnedest to be ready for the challenge.

BATTING
A Duddy 10-6-439-109.75-high 116*, 1x100 1x50
N Cooke 16-3-308-23.69-high 87, 1x50

BOWLING
G Neely 133-388-51-7.6-best 8-16
N Cooke 109-406-34-11.94-best 6-12
B Dougherty 93-404-28-14.4-best 5-8