Cup dominates busy North West cricket weekend programme

We're getting down to the latter stages of the various cup competitions now, and it is definitely all about knockout cricket this weekend with teams participating across five tournaments over the next few days.

Action gets under way on Friday night as Bonds Glen and Strabane square up in the final of the Sperrin Springs T20 Cup at St Johnston.

Neither side has set the world alight so far in their respective leagues, however both have players capable of having a big say in the outcome.

The Red Caps will be very wary of the in-form Divan Posthumus as well as former Ardmore man Dharm Singh, while the likes of Stephen Dunn and Johnny Haslett have been down this road before.

The Bee Gees younger players - Samuel Haslett, Mark Robinson and Sam Kincaid have been in and around the Warriors winter training squads too, so the nucleus of the side is clearly in place.

Strabane have no shortage of them either- overseas man Ranitha Lyanarachchi seems to have really settled in at his new club while Subhan Shirzad, Aaron Gillespie, Rhys Logue and the Gallagher brothers are others well capable of turning the game.

Their talisman, John Mooney, is a vital cog in their wheel and if he plays, the Tyrone side will be very difficult to beat.

On Saturday it's the turn of the Sports Hub senior cup and the Sammy Jeffrey Shield- both competitions now down to the final four.

Senior Cup holders Newbuildings travel to Coleraine after both sides played out an absolute thriller in the league last Saturday. Ross Hunter's side had to come from behind to claim the points in that one and both teams looked very well matched.

Again, the pair have a host of big game players, most of whom know what it's like to play in the latter stages of these competitions.

It will likely come down to fine margins, maybe which overseas man fares best on the day, but it's very difficult to call.

If anything, that's even more the case at Beechgrove where Brigade entertain current league champions Donemana.

Strangely, Andy Britton's team has already lost three times in the league this season and they'll be reluctant to show any weakness to a Donemana side who will jump on that.

The Holm side are also involved in the quarter-finals of the Irish Senior Cup on Sunday when they visit Balbriggan. There's nothing surer than Gary McClintock's side would love nothing more than to defy another desperately unlucky away draw in that one, but no doubt either that the NW senior cups always holds a prominent piece on the mantle-piece.

Brigade have plenty of incentive too of course, with the final being held at Beechgrove next month they would dearly love to be involved.

Donemana start favourites solely on form so far this summer, but there might be very little in it.

Glendermott entertain St Johnston in the Sammy Jeffrey and these two sides have seen plenty of each other already, with the Rectory side holding a slight advantage so far.

Games between them always seem to have plenty riding on them and it is no different this time.

RED NEXT: Adam Frizell excited to prove himself at Derry City

Ballyspallen visit Killyclooney, again, a venue where the visitors have enjoyed success already this season.

The usual suspects could decide this - Aron Visser, Kenzie Hall and Timmy Dougherty for the hosts, and Isaac Bird, Graham Kennedy and Kagiso Rapulana for the Roe Valley men.

This weekend's fixtures

Friday - Sperrin Springs Cup final (The Boathole- 6.30 pm) - Bonds Glen v Strabane

Saturday - Sports Hub NW Senior Cup (11 am) - Brigade v Donemana; Coleraine v Newbuildings; Sam Jeffrey Shield (11 am) - Glendermott v St Johnston; Killyclooney v Ballyspallen

Sunday - Irish Senior Cup quarter-final (12.30) - Balbriggan v Donemana; National Cup quarter-finals (1.30) - Co Kerry v Glendermott; Terenure v Ballyspallen