Brigade gained revenge for their Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup defeat eight days earlier to reach the semi finals of the ClubTurf Ulster Cup.

Last week, Waringstown professional Glen Addicott scored a superb undefeated century to keep the holders in the competition, yesterday it was Mark Snodgrass, who was playing for Killyclooney last year, who was the Brigade hero as they chased down the Villagers 192 for six with one wicket and just four balls to spare.

The target, when the home side set out, was modest enough but when they collapsed to 114 for eight, there appeared to be only one winner.

Step forward Snodgrass who, with the help of opening bowler Graeme Moore, put on 67 for the ninth wicket. But when Addicott had Moore caught by Lee Nelson, Brigade were still 12 runs short of their target.

Last man Nick Donnell carried on the home side’s heroics and, in another thrilling conclusion, Snodgrass brought up his 50 and won the match for Brigade whose reward is a home semi final against last year’s beaten finalists North Down.

The NCU champions won the all-NCU clash with CIYMS yesterday thanks to a unbeaten 92 by Ryan Haire.

Here too, the team batting second seemed to be underdogs when Ryan Butterworth dismissed big-hitting Johnny Terrett for just two to leave North Down, in pursuit of 197, on 155 for six with seven overs remaining.

But Haire, who faced 99 balls and hit seven fours and three sixes, and the cool head of skipper Peter Shields (18 not out) saw them home without further loss, and with a full over remaining.

Earlier, David Kennedy had ripped through the CI top order, reducing them to 24 for three, but yet another half century this season by Jeremy Bray and, after his dismissal, 39 not out by Peter Connell — the former Ireland opening bowler playing his first match of the season — go t the Belmont side up to a competitive total.

But, despite CI captain Stephen Hughes responding with three wickets of his own, the big-spending Belmont side crashed out of their second cup competition in as many weeks.

The other semi final will be at Stormont between Civil Service North and Donemana.

Donemana knocked out the holders, Instonians, yesterday with a comprehensive eight wickets victory at The Holm in an interrupted game reduced to 36 overs.

Set 178 to win, nine more than their visitors managed, Ireland Under 19 World Cup hopeful Ryan Hunter did his chances no harm with 96 as Donemana eased home with nearly seven overs in hand.

South African Griffin Nieuwoudt will be the man they will have to worry about in the last four, the CSN professional scoring his third century in just five games yesterday as Strabane returned home with a 68 runs defeat.

Nieuwoudt finished 119 not out, from 120 balls, with 10 fours and three sixes, as CSN posted the highest total of the day, 227 for four.

Clubturf Ulster Cup semi final draw: Brigade v North Down, Civil Service North v Donemana.Games to be played on July 1.

Ulster Shield semi final draw: Eglinton v Cliftonville, Muckamore v Dundrum. Games to be played on Sunday July 1.

Northern Bank Senior Cup semi final draw: Burndennet or Bready v Donemana or Glendmott. Coleraine or Limavady v St Johnston or Brigade.