Ardmore celebrate after winning their first ever senior title

Ardmore won their first Long's SuperValu senior title in a thrilling finale at the Bleachgreen on Sunday as Rachit Gaur's side held on against Fox Lodge to record the bonus point win they required by just 11 runs.

Skipper Gaur hit a century as his side set a target of 229, but Jason Milligan's brilliant 90 in reply threatened to ruin the party atmosphere before the hosts recovered in the nick of time. 

Ardmore simply weren't at the races against a Donemana team who racked up 258-7 from their reduced 36 overs as they batted first.

William McClintock hardly broke sweat with a 28-ball 55 made up of 8 sixes, a four and three singles.

He and Andy McBrine (51) put on a 72-run partnership from 46 deliveries before Levi Dougherty smashed an unbeaten 78 (8 sixes) to take the game away from the visitors.

Dharm Singh and Harry Zimmermann picked up two wickets each, however the reply never got off the ground.

Skipper Rachit Gaur's 40 was by some distance the best of it- William McBrine claiming 5-17 with Junior McBrine and the retiring Jordan McGonigle adding two apiece.

Fox Lodge arrive at the 'Green on Sunday requiring a near miracle turnaround to finish in the top eight. They'll have to win with maximum bonus points and by a huge margin to have even a remote chance of dislodging Eglinton in the top half.

Ardmore need a comfortable win, but they'll also need to be a whole lot better than this to earn it.

The Macbeth brothers were in full control of events at Beechgrove as Brigade did their bit to keep the title race alive against one-time table leaders, Killyclooney. 

Ryan returned figures of 5-30 and Scott 4-18 as the visitors were dismissed for just 74- Jordan Nelson's 20 the best of that.

The hosts lost a couple of wickets as they cruised to a bloodless win that puts the pressure right back on Ardmore going into the final day.

Coleraine sealed their place in next year's Premier Division as they easily accounted for St Johnston in Donegal.

The Saints had blown the title race wide open last Sunday with a shock 2-run win over Brigade, but a repeat of that never looked likely after the home side had slumped to 6-3 early on.

Some middle order resistance from Graeme McCarter (34), Nathan Cole (32) and David Anthony (32) helped push the total up to 145 all out; the Hutchinson brothers, Stephen and Matthew with three wickets each while Scott Campbell and Gareth Burns split the other four. 

Coleraine cruised it after that in truth- Tim Chopra ((58*) and Scott Campbell (47*) with an unbroken second wicket stand of 95 after Marcus Poskitt had earlier made 25.

Poskitt's century in defeat a week earlier at Fox Lodge had meant that any kind of win, or defeat for Fox Lodge at Ardmore in the final game, would see the Bannsiders join the elite in next year's top flight, and so it proved.

Newbuildings also closed their season out with a win despite a superb Liam Doherty century for Eglinton.

The villagers hardly took advantage of Doherty's 116 (12 fours, 7 sixes) with Robbie Millar (33) and Andy Millar (17) the only others to get to double figures in their 191 all out.

Ross Dougherty and Trent McKeegan bagged three wickets each for the hosts with Gregory McFaul and Charlie Downey adding a couple apiece.

In-form Jason Dunn scored a superb 98 (8 fours, 8 sixes) and Mark Hanna 45 as Newbuidings had 7 wickets to spare in their win.

And the day also ended with Drummond picking up the League 3 title after a narrow win over Strabane IIs.

Andrew Doey's side had already done enough anyway, but NWCU President Connie McAllister noted that it was great to see the Roe Valley side back on an upward curve.