Donemana are the sole North West representative remaining in the Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup, following a dramatic win over Waringstown at The Holm, in a game reduced to 35 overs per side.

 

Veteran seamer James McBrine held his nerve in an eventful final over to win it for the 2000 champions. With seven needed, Waringstown could only manage four singles, with the wickets of Gary Kidd, stumped by Richard Dougherty, and Simon Harrison, well caught by a diving Jordan McGonigle running in from the boundary.

 

That meant Peter Hanna needing to score a boundary from the final ball, but his drive yielded only a single, much to the delight of the substantial home support. Hanna (59*) and Jonathan Bushe (46) had shared a 79 run stand for the 5th wicket, which brought the visitors right back into contention, after losing the vital wickets of professional Ijaz Ahmed (31), and Kyle McCallan (4).

 

The crucial spells were bowled by the McBrine brothers with Junior conceding just 10 runs in his 7 overs, while James took 4-37.

 

Earlier it was Graham Boyd who held together the Donemana innings, as he hit 7 fours and 4 sixes in an unbeaten 89. That helped Donemana post 191 for 7, with Richard Dougherty (26 from 13 balls) providing late acceleration. Kyle McCallan (3-20) was the pick of the ‘Town attack.

 

Donemana’s reward is a trip to Merrion, who knocked out Limavady in a rain reduced, and low scoring encounter in Dublin.

 

The Roesiders recent free scoring exploits came to an end, as they struggled in scoring just 152 in 44.2 overs. They never really recovered from the loss of Des Curry to the first ball of the game, as Matt Petrie proved unplayable. He had the remarkable analysis of 3-8 in 9 overs, taking the wickets of Curry, Chris Moore and Andrew Riddles.

 

Limavady looked in danger of making less than 100 when they were reduced to 71-6, but helped by dropped catches, Richard McDaid (44), and brother Mark (33), they scraped to 152.

 

Rain reduced the target to 139 in 41 overs, and Merrion struggled initially, with Richard McDaid removing Alex Morrison and Dom Joyce without scoring. At 80 for 6, the tie had swung towards Limavady, but Ritchie Barker (60)and Jeff Short (31*) saw Merrion win by 3 wickets.

 

Leinster looked well on course to beat Rush when rain forced the game to be abandoned. George Dockrell (5-26)had restricted Rush to just 172. Michael Donnelly (46), W Akhtar (31), and K Clarke (23) the main contributors of note. In reply Leinster had raced to 47 without loss after 7 overs, when the rain reurned with a vengeance to force the abandonment.

 

That game is now likely to be replayed on July 12th, with The Hills versus North County due to be played on July 15th - this game is a first attempt.

Semi Final Draw

  • Merrion v Donemana
  • The Hills/North County v Rush/Leinster

Games to be played Saturday July 19.