NW Cricket: Sam Jeffrey and Eric Cooke Cup finals headline busy weekend

Players and spectators alike will be hoping for a dry weekend ahead with two cup finals, nine league games and two women's senior cup games all down for decision over the next few days.

Action gets underway on Friday morning (11 am) as Glendermott host Ballyspallen at the Rectory in the two-innings Sammy Jeffrey final that continues to a finish on Saturday.

It promises to be a cracking contest between two teams with big-game players in their camp and it will be interesting to see if the Roe Valley side bring South African Test player, Eddie Moore, across for the weekend.

Moore scored a superb 140 on his only appearance so far for 'Spallen as they beat Terenure in the National Cup, however his presence fell foul of a rule barring players who hadn't played in earlier rounds, from the quarter final stage onward.

Despite that, the all-rounder is registered and available for North West competition and his inclusion (were it to happen) alongside the likes of Isaac Bird and the Kennedy brothers would make this a really interesting contest.

Glendermott could potentially be in a similar position with Geeth Kumara, and their supporting cast includes Alan Johnson, Ben Mills, Ryan Nolan and Trevor Britton and they also of course have home advantage.

It has all the makings of a very interesting couple of days on Bonds Street.

The Eric Cooke final is a one-innings, T20 event between Coleraine and Fox Lodge starting at 6.30 at Bonds Glen.

Four weeks ago this would have been a different preview with the Bannsiders sitting proudly at the top of Section 1 while the Foxes were being kept company by Ballyspallen in Section 2.

Three defeats in their last three outings has seen Coleraine drop to fourth in the table and out of the senior cup while Fox Lodge have put clear blue between them and the chasing pack in the race for promotion.

We say it most weeks but the respective team-sheets could play a big part in the outcome. Pound for pound, at full strength Coleraine would be marginal favourites but the Foxes are the team in form.

Saturday's league schedule is headlined by a dress rehearsal of next weekend's Sports Hub senior cup final as Newbuildings host Donemana at Foyle Arena.

Faughan Valley Cup winners Newbuildings.

Adding more spice, as if more is needed, the pair are currently first and second in the Premiership 1 table so it looks certain to be some atmosphere on Saturday.

Newbuildings come into the game on the back of winning the Faughan Valley cup after beating Brigade at the Bleachgreen on Sunday.

Speaking after the game, skipper Ross Hunter acknowledged that his side had started the season slowly but backed by their big, boisterous support, the players had rallied really well to go on this winning run.

Donemana have lost just once in league and cup this year themselves, and the Holm side bow to no-one when it comes to digging deep.

It's highly likely that, weather permitting, these two teams are going to serve up an amazing couple of weeks of domestic cricket at its best.

Newbuildings, like most of the top flight clubs, have a double-header league weekend to contend with, and they have another tough challenge on their hands on Sunday as they host Brigade again.

Depending on Saturday's result, it's possible that both teams will need to win this replay to keep their title hopes alive, and that could make this a real 'must see' as well.

Isaac Bird batting.

Andy Britton's side can afford no slip-ups at this stage if they're to stay in the hunt and they begin their weekend with a home game against an Eglinton side desperate for points at the other end of the table.

The villagers' situation is definitely a strange one and you keep expecting them to turn the corner any minute. Confidence is clearly low just now but a win at Beechgrove would solve that.

Should that be beyond them it will make Sunday's trip to Bready a different ball game.

Ian Young's men have posted two massive wins over Donemana and Coleraine in recent weeks, but they still need more points as well. There looks to be plenty at stake in both of those matches.

Strabane could do with another win as well as they look to pull themselves up the table, and the Red Caps do at least have a 'home' double to look forward to.

Coleraine provide the opposition on Saturday while leaders Donemana come calling on Saturday and Kevin Gallagher would love to go into the Tyrone derby with a few more safety points in the bag.

Bready begin their weekend with a home game against Ardmore and there's little separating that pair in the standings to date.

IN PICTURES: Wednesday's action from Foyle Cup 2025

Those recent wins could well have given the hosts a bit of a lift, but you can never know what to expect from the Bleachgreen side whose overseas man Junaid Ali has been finding his feet of late.

There are only two games in Section 2 on Saturday, given the ongoing Sam Jeffrey final, with leaders Fox Lodge visiting Bonds Glen and title challengers St Johnston away at Burndennett.

Both of the form sides should win, but it has been one of those seasons where you can count on nothing.

This weekend's fixtures

Friday

Sam Jeffrey final (Day 1- The Rectory 11 am) - Glendermott v Ballyspallen

Eric Cooke Cup final (Bonds Glen- 6.30 pm) - Coleraine v Fox Lodge

Saturday

Sam Jeffrey final (Day 2- The Rectory 11 am) - Glendermott v Ballyspallen

Long's SuperValu Section 1 (12 noon) - Bready v Ardmore; Brigade v Eglinton; Newbuildings v Donemana; Strabane v Coleraine

Section 2 (12 noon) - Bonds Glen v Fox Lodge; Burndennett v St Johnston

Sunday

Long's SuperValu Section 1 (12 noon) - Bready v Eglinton; Newbuildings v Brigade; Strabane v Donemana

Women's Senior Cup - Coleraine v Bonds Glen; Eglinton v Strabane