TIED FINAL STARTS TENSE WEEKEND

The North West Under-19 final had all the makings of a really good contest but few would have guessed just how well matched Coleraine and Donemana were to be when the pair locked horns at Eglinton on Friday evening.

The Bannsiders included regular first-teamers Scott Campbell, Rishi Chopra, Calum McGregor and Paul Douglas in their ranks while the Tyrone side named Kyle Dougherty, William McBrine and the McClintock twins bringing the total of those with senior experience in the two camps to eight.

Campbell and McGregor anchored the Coleraine innings in the 16 over shoot-out, the latter in particularly good form hitting 6 fours and a six before being run out for 49. Campbell's 24 and 14 from Michael MacRaild helped the Sandel Lodge lads to 101 for 5 in their allotted overs as Gary McClintock (2-22) fared best with the ball with Dougherty and McBrine the other wicket-takers.

The McClintock's then set about getting Donemana towards the target- Gary hitting 3 fours and 3 sixes in his 43 while William added 21 however in the face of some really tidy bowling, no-one else got into double figures. They were at least keeping up with the rate however the game came down to the last ball with Donemana needing two to win.

Craig Peters completed the first run safely but was then run out trying to get the second that would have won his side the cup.

Donemana were all out for 101 but with no rule in place regarding fewer wickets lost the trophy was shared. Rishi Chopra (4 for 20) bowled really well while Matt Smyth, Scott Campbell (2 apiece) and Rory Handforth (1) were the other takers in a thoroughly entertaining tie.