It may have taken quite a bit longer than expected but we now know who will contest next Friday's Northern Bank senior cup final after Donemana accounted for Bready in Saturday's all-Tyrone semi final to book their place against Brigade in the decider.
There have been many hurdles to clear to get to this point but the two sides can now focus all their attention on the two-innings show-piece after Richard Kee's men put the cup holders to the sword in thoroughly convincing fashion. The day began well for the hosts as David Barr (34) and Bryan Scanlon (48) gave them the perfect platform with a 75-run stand for the first wicket but once or twice in the past the middle and lower order has been found wanting and David Scanlon's side picked the wrong day for Mr Hyde to re-appear.
75 for 0 became 112 for 5 as Junior McBrine (3 for 26) got among the wickets again and despite Brian Crumley and Colin Spence nudging it up to 143 for 6, Bready had little left in the tank. Jordan McGonigle (4 for 30) returned to the attack to wrap things up double quick as those last 4 wickets fell for just 5 runs meaning the Holm men needed 149 to reach the final.
Ryan Hunter and Kamran Sajid rattled up 69 for the first wicket and from there on it was only a matter of how far. Hunter made 21 and skipper Kee was out for 13 before Sajid with an unbeaten 74 that included 5 fours and a six and Andy McBrine (33 not out) steered Donemana over the winning line with any amount in hand.
In truth it was a disappointing end to their reign for Bready who are a far better side than this but what a season it is turning out to be for their neighbours. A place in yesterday's Faughan Valley final plus a semi final in the Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup to come it seems the trophy cabinet might need an extra couple of nails.
On the downside of course Andy McBrine and Ryan Hunter will board the plane for Australia on Wednesday morning and if anything is to stop them it could be that. In a strange twist of irony it must be noted that this time last year the Ireland under-19 duo were also away on International duty and they left with Donemana in the cup final and top of the league and they won neither. Richard Kee knows he has a record to put straight now.
Away from the cup there was plenty of action in Division 1 of the Long's SuperValu league as well with three games affecting matters at both ends of the table. Coleraine travelled to Creevedonnell knowing a win would take them back to the top of the league and the Bannsiders didn't waste the opportunity.
Craig Averill's 47 gave them a start before professional Chinthaka Jayasinghe decided to put on a show for his last appearance in the North West, for a while at least. Jayasinghe has been acquired in the auction for the new Sri Lanka Premier League and the T20 specialist will appear in a side captained by West Indian Chris Gayle no less, over the next four weeks.
The Bannsiders' professional smacked 27 fours and 9 sixes here, sharing in a partnership of 217 with David Cooke, the latter contributing just 34 of those as the Sri Lankan raced to a double hundred in just 119 balls. All of that allowed Coleraine to make 347 for 6 in their 50 overs and the beleaguered hosts just had nothing to offer in reply.
Stephen Scroggie's men were blown away for just 67 in total with only Ellis McGarrigle (17) making it into double figures. While Jayasinghe tore their heart out with the bat, Stevie Dunn finished them off with the ball, the left arm seamer returning stunning figures of 8 for 34 in the heavies senior defeat for some time. The win leaves Coleraine joint top of the table but despite their bright start, Creevedonnell now look to have a real scrap on their hands to stay out of the bottom two.
Bad though that may be however the Creevies' plight was put in the shade by Bonds Glen's as Richard Hepburn's side suffered their tenth straight defeat of the campaign when they travelled to face in-form Fox Lodge. Jonny Robinson's men had given themselves a real boost in their own relegation scrap when they recorded back-to-back wins at Bready and Strabane last weekend and they made it three from three here with a comfortable victory.
Professional Gihan Dilruk has been out of sorts recently and the Sri Lankan was an early casualty again as his side slumped to 79 for 5. David Robinson (39), Richard Rodgers (30 not out) and Gary Hamilton (23) led a fightback of sorts but three wickets for Jason Milligan and two apiece for Gareth Heywood and Wajihuddin Mohammed saw the visitors restricted to 165 all out. To be fair to them the Bee Gees refused to lie down and some decent bowling from Robinson (2-18) and Rodney Pearson (2-31) had the hosts wobbling a little before an unbeaten half century from Dean McCarter and 36 from Mark Mooney eased Fox Lodge to a 5-wicket win.
The final game in this Division was the Waterside derby between Brigade and Glendermott and the home side warmed up for Friday's senior cup clash with a fairly comfortable 5-wicket win. The visitors batted first but were soon in difficulty at 60 for 4 before a middle order revival seemed set to make a game of it. Charlie Elder hit 4 fours and 3 sixes on his way to making 45 while Garth Watson added a useful 33 but the real impetus came in an 88-run stand between Stephen McCloskey and Alan Johnston that only ended in the final ball of the 50th over. McCloskey made 43 not out and Johnston selflessly gave his wicket away for 42 trying to nick an extra run as Glendermott finished on a very respectable 234 for 7.
Roy Silva then removed Gareth McKeegan in his first over to give the Rectory side hope before Mattie Moran and Iftikhar Hussain tore into the visitors' attack. Moran thumped 7 sixes and a four in his 67 while his batting partner stroked a more composed 5 fours and a six in making 96 before both men were curiously run out. Chris Dixon with 24 and 19 not out from Trevor Britton closed out the win to send the reigning league champions into the weekend in good shape.
There was action in Division 2 as well- Drummond booking their place in the Sammy Jeffrey final against Eglinton with a solid win at home to Burndennett. Mark Averill made an unbeaten century for the home team in their 222 for 4 while the visitors never quite caught up with the required rate and were dismissed for 171.
St Johnston beat Ardmore by 4 wickets in a low scoring league game at the Donegal venue to move back to joint top spot in the league while Sion Mills added to Killyclooney's woes with a big win. Adam Long made 136 for the Tyrone side in their huge 348 and despite skipper Richard McMorris leading by example with 3 wickets and 44 runs his side never looked likely to get close.
There were two Intermediate cup finals played this weekend as well- a Graeme Boyd inspired Donemana Seconds beat Bready Seconds by 54 runs in the “A” final in which the two teams posted the best part of 1100 runs between them over the two days. In the “D” final a spectacular collapse from Sion Seconds allowed Bready Fifths to claim a 40-run win at Strabane Park.
NORTHERN BANK SENIOR CUP SEMI FINAL
At Magheramason, Bready 148-10-40.3 (B Scanlon 48, D Barr 34, J McGonigle 4-30, Jun McBrine 3-26) lost to Donemana 150-2-31.4 (K Sajid 74*, A McBrine 33*, R Hunter 21) by 8 wickets.
LONG'S SUPERVALU DIVISION 1
At Creevedonnell, Coleraine 347-6-50 (C Jayasinghe 203, C Averill 47, D Cooke 34) beat Creevedonnell 67-10-17.3 (S Dunn 8-34) by 280 runs.
At Ballymagorry, Bonds Glen 165-10-46.1 (D Robinson 39, R Rodgers 30*, G Hamilton 23, R Robinson 21, J Milligan 3-49, G Heywood 2-22, Wajihuddin 2-32) lost to Fox Lodge 170-5-42 (D McCarter 54*, M Mooney 36, Wajihuddin 34, D Robinson 2-18, R Pearson 2-31) by 5 wickets.
At Beechgrove, Glendermott 234-7-50 (C Elder 45, S McCloskey 43*, A Johnston 42, R Robinson 26, S Killen 21, N Donnell 2-32, M Snodgrass 2-62) lost to Brigade 235-5-33.5 (I Hussain 96, M Moran 67, C Dixon 24, R Silva 2-69) by 5 wickets.
SAMMY JEFFREY SHIELD SEMI FINAL
At Drummond, Drummond 222-4-40 (M Averill 101*, D Carlin 38, M Lynch 33, C Hartin 25, C McGettigan 2-26) beat Burndennett 171-10-38.3 (M Doherty 34, M Porter 25, N Devine 23, C McGettigan 23, S Moore 4-20, M Lynch 3-33, G Anderson 2-35) by 51 runs.
LONG'S SUPERVALU DIVISION 2
At the Boathole, Ardmore 95-10-38.2 (R Brolly 22, D Lapsley 3-10, R MacBeth 3-20) lost to St Johnston 97-6- 28.5 (P Harrigan 3-20, M Gormley 2-26) by 4 wickets.
At Killyclooney, Sion Mills 348-10-47.3 (A Long 136, K Gallagher 69, L Finlay 39, R McMorris 3-56, R Barr 2-44) lost to Killyclooney 173-10-33.1 (R McMorris 44, J Connor 42, R Barr 22, R Harper 4-43, J Friel 3-64) by 175 runs.