Donemana and Newbuildings set up senior cup final sequel

Next month's Sports Hub NW Senior Cup final at Beechgrove will be a repeat of the 2024 decider after Donemana and Newbuildings posted semi-final wins on Saturday over Brigade and Coleraine respectively.

Both of this weekend's last-four ties were expected to be close run affairs but in truth, neither really was.

Newbuildings came back from a precarious position to beat Coleraine in the league last weekend and most observers were expecting the same sort of game when they locked horns at Sandel Lodge, however a solid bowling display from the visitors put paid to that.

Louren Steenkamp held the home team's order together as best he could- his 43 and 27 from Marcus Poskitt much the best of the Bannsiders' modest total of 138 all out.

True, batting was tricky to start with and the visitors used conditions very well. Jason Dunn, who claimed a 'fivefor' in the cup semi-final last season was at it again as he helped himself to figures of 5-21.

Ryan Hunter (2-27) was next best, but to be fair, Newbuildings bowled very well as a unit, and that set the standard for the day.

Coleraine were unable to impose themselves to the same effect when it came their turn to take to the field and although they picked up four wickets in the defence of their total, they simply hadn't enough runs.

Swept away by Coleraine's Louren Steenkamp.

Peat Salmon showed the aggression that was missing for most of the day- the West Indian hit 5 fours and 5 sixes in his unbeaten 67 while Hunter chipped in with a more circumspect 34 as the Foyle View side won a bit comfortably.

Donemana's victory was probably even more emphatic- they beat Brigade by 113 runs at Beechgrove before getting ready for a trip to Dublin for Sunday's Irish Senior Cup quarter-final tie at Balbriggan.

Anuj Jotin led the charge as the visitors racked up 265-6; he hit 7 fours and 2 sixes in his 96 with support coming from skipper Gary McClintock (63), Raymond Curry (39), Andy McBrine (25) and William McClintock (20).

Anuk Fernando (2-46) and David Barr (2-62) were among the wickets for Andy Britton's men, but they were found wanting with the bat.

Scott Macbeth played well for his 46 while Cameron Melly (26) was the only other contributor of note in a reply that closed on 152.

Jotin and Gary McClintock were again to the fore with the ball- claiming three and two wickets respectively in a surprisingly one-sided contest.

Stephen Hutchinson edges and is caught by Johnny Thompson.

It's a repeat of last year's final then- a weekend that broke all modern records for supporters attending a domestic game here.

Hopefully it will be more of the same this time around.

In the Sam Jeffrey it will be Ballyspallen and Glendermott facing off in this year's final after wins over Killyclooney and St Johnston respectively.

'Clooney posted an impressive 257 batting first at home to the Roe Valley men with Aron Visser hitting 16 fours and 4 sixes in his excellent 140.

Alfie Moan added 34 and Kenzie Hall 28 with Graham Kennedy (4-32) claiming the honours with the ball, assisted by his two brothers, Stuart and Stephen who picked up two apiece.

Ballyspallen looked to be in trouble after Isaac Bird and Graham Kennedy both went cheaply, however their stand-in 'pro', Jurie Synman, brought them back into it with an attacking 112 (10 fours, 7 sixes).

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Not for the first time this month it was Stuart Kennedy who then brought it home for the visitors- his 73* and 18* from Jamie O'Brien giving their side a 4-wicket win.

Despite all the fancy numbers of the day, it's impossible to argue that the standout performance of this, and the season so far, came as Glendermott beat St Johnston at the Rectory.

Another final for Newbuildings.

Chasing the home side's 267-8, the Donegal men were bowled out for 75 with Trevor Britton taking NINE of the ten wickets to fall.

Geeth Kumara made 66, Ben Mills 34, Ryan Nolan 31, Jason Lynch 30 and Alan Johnson 25 for the Bonds Street side with Scott Devenney and Nathan Cole grabbing three wickets each for the Saints.

For the third time this season however the visitors were bowled out for under 100 by their hosts and it was all down to 'Ted's' magnificent 9-14.

Another brilliant two-day final looks to be in store here too.