The draw took place last Friday for the semi-finals of the TCH Down Democrat Challenge Cup and it still holds out the chance of a repeat of last year’s finale, a showdown between the “Big Two” in the local game North Down and Waringstown.
In a departure from the normal venues for the Down Democrat Challenge Cup draws this one was hosted in the surroundings of Grosvenor Grammar School in Belfast.  The reasons, none other than the fact that two of Ireland’s current 100 plus capped internationals are teachers at the school.
Both Kyle McCallan who represents Waringstown and Andrew White, a player for Instonians are superb ambassadors for the game locally and were delighted to have the TCH Down Democrat Challenge Cup make an appearance at their place of work.
However, I suspect that their pleasure was more than surpassed by that of their young cricketing charges who waited with growing excitement outside the school’s sixth form centre for the opportunity to be photographed with the famous trophy.
The principal of Grosvenor Grammar School, John Lockett, himself an avid cricket fan was on hand to welcome Kieran Moloney, CEO TCH Democrat Media, the guests from the NCU and the clubs still left in the competition.
In his opening remarks Mr. Lockett paid tribute to the work carried out by McCallan in his seven years at the school and how he had revived the fortunes of the sport at Grosvenor after a number of years without any cricketing activity.
The first names drawn out of the hat by Kieran Moloney were North Down and Instonians.  North Down still have the little matter of overcoming Instonians and after the thrills of their epic tie in their first quarterfinal encounter the pair will meet again at Osborne Park this Saturday 21st June. NCU, President Ian Gourley paired them with Civil Service North.
The second tie will see a repeat of the 2006 final with CIYMS at home to Waringstown.  On paper at least it looks as though McCallan will have an easier route to the final than his colleague White.

At the draw the Northern Cricket Union also announced details of a memorial to Bill McCarroll, its former General Secretary who died in August last year. The memorial will take the form of a gold medal to be presented to the Man of the Match at the Challenge Cup Final. The first award will be presented at the 2008 Cup Final. The award, which will be known as The McCarroll Memorial Medal, has been specially commissioned by the NCU.

NCU Chairman Wylie McKinty in announcing the memorial said:

‘Bill took tremendous pride and satisfaction in his organisation of the Challenge Cup and in particular the final each year. It is fitting therefore that his name will now be permanently linked with the Final. The McCarroll Memorial Medal is something any cricketer will be proud to win.’