Newbuildings take on Glendermott as Senior Cup starts this weekend

It's one of the big weekends on the domestic cricket calendar coming up, as Saturday sees the start of this season's Sports Hub Senior Cup competition.

For a lot of clubs, the senior cup is the Union's blue riband tournament, and the Premier Division teams will be hoping to avoid any slip-ups in the seeded first round.

Holders Newbuildings are one of the teams who will need to be on their guard as they travel to the Rectory to take on Glendermott.

The home side's batting hasn't quite been firing in the first couple of weeks, but they will probably see this as something of a 'free-hit' and they could be dangerous as a consequence.

Ross Hunter's team have struggled themselves- losing both of their league games so far against Ardmore and Donemana- but they would be very disappointed if they can't progress here.

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Donemana, last year's losing finalists, and one of three unbeaten sides in the top flight, make the very short trip to Killyclooney and given that they have lost at the venue a couple of times in the past few seasons, there will be nothing taken for granted here either.

On form, the visitors would be expected to win this as they like, and we're all aware of Donemana's love affair with this competition.

The Holm side will be hoping to secure the senior cup for the 24th time in their history this season, and impressive though that may be, they are still second on the list to Sion Mills, who have 29.

Granted you have to go back to 1984 for the latest of those successes, however the Tyrone outfit return to the senior cup for the first time in 11 years on Saturday. Their reward is a home tie against Coleraine, the second of the currently unbeaten Section 1 teams, and although the village team are up against it, they will lack for nothing in spirit or support.

The Bannsiders have been threatening to get back on the trophy trail over the past few seasons and new skipper Rory Knox, will certainly have eyes fixed on the quarter finals.

Ardmore, the third of the three unbeaten teams, have something of a local derby to look forward to, as they nip out the Kildoag Road to take on Bonds Glen.

The Bee Gees have lost both league outing so far, but you wouldn't write them off on their own patch; albeit their overseas man Divan Posthumus could miss the game following a family bereavement.

The Bleachgreen side have bounced back well at the start of this season, already half as many league points in the bag as they earned in the whole of 2024, and they should be too strong for their neighbours here.

Brigade entertain a Ballyspallen side that has come flying out of the traps already, and in Isaac Bird the Roe Valley men seem to have unearthed a real player.

The hosts of course have bags of quality throughout the squad and with this year's final back at the Limavady Road venue, they'll be keen to go deep in the competition. They should win, but you probably wouldn't bet your house.

Eglinton are a side with a bit of cup pedigree and Jamie Millar's side will be hot favourites to see off Burndennett, especially at home.

Liam Doherty is now safely back at the village club having missed their opening series of fixtures, and despite 'Dennett's ability to make this uncomfortable, it's unlikely that they have enough to win.

On a day of several 'derbies' Fox Lodge v Bready is another in that category, and this one is particularly interesting.

Ian Young's team has not started well; indeed they've already lost a T20 group game to the Ballymagorry side this season. They've won one and lost one of their two league outings so far, although Gavin Roulston has recovered from his arm injury and they will also be hoping that their new overseas player is available for this one.

There will be high hopes across the board when the Senior Cup starts this weekend.

The Foxes have only played once so far in the league and started with a crushing win over Bonds Glen last Saturday. Home advantage is another favour to them and although Bready are favourites, the last two fixtures could be the closest to call.

We finish on a derby of sorts as well- Strabane hosting St Johnston in another game that would be no surprise either way.

The Red Caps have found their new Section 1 surroundings a lot more difficult, which is to be expected, and they could really be doing with John Mooney at the weekend.

You know what you're going to get with the Saints; they're a side that doesn't know when they're beaten, and Strabane will definitely need to be better than they've shown so far.

Gun to head, Strabane are favourites, but there might not be a lot in it.

The group stages of the women's senior cup continue on Sunday with Bready travelling to Coleraine and Fox Lodge at Eglinton.

Both of the travelling sides won their first outings last weekend and follow-up wins here would go a long way towards taking them closer to another cup final between the pair.

Sports Hub Senior Cup 1st round (11.00am starts) - Ardmore v Bonds Glen; Killyclooney v Donemana; Brigade v Ballyspallen; Sion Mills v Coleraine; Eglinton v Burndennett; Glendermott v Newbuildings; Strabane v St Johnston; Fox Lodge v Bready

Sunday - Women's Senior Cup; Coleraine v Bready; Eglinton v Fox Lodge