The T20 Cup goes on the back burner across the NWCU this weekend as focus switches to a full Long’s SuperValu league programme on Saturday followed by Round 2 of the All-Ireland Cups on Sunday
Obviously, the fact that only Brigade survived the first round cull in the Irish Senior Cup has diminished local interest considerably in that one, however Andy Britton’s men do at least have a home draw to work with as they look forward to the visit of Dublin side, Leinster CC, the current Irish champions.
Skipper Bilal Azhar is a very highly regarded all-rounder and he will bring a quality side including Monil Patel, New Zealand batsman Matthew Vercoe-Curtis and Gareth Delany to the Limavady Road this weekend.
Brigade are no mugs of course and they won’t mind testing themselves against the very top level of Irish club cricket. Andy Britton has plenty of lads in his own corner who could turn a game very quickly- notably the likes of Scott Macbeth who has been in brilliant form this season, as well as Cameron Melly, Iftikhar Hussain and Adam McDaid.
It’s a huge weekend for the Beechgrove side too as they warm up for Sunday’s Irish Senior Cup challenge with a tough looking league game away at Newbuildings. This week’s North West Senior Cup semi-final draw paired the same two teams at the same venue at the end of June, so both teams will be keen to secure the high ground this weekend.
There’s a three-way go at the top of the Section 1 table at present and as well as Brigade, both Bready and Donemana are in there pitching too.
Bready will need to quickly dispel the memory of last weekend’s batting collapse that saw Eglinton dump them out of the cup when the villagers come calling again in the league on Saturday.
The Magheramason side surely can’t be as bad again, but the visitors will be brim full of confidence after a Mark Averill-inspired assault with the ball. There will be plenty of eyes on this contest to see what response Ian Young’s team have in them.
Donemana entertain an Ardmore side that has so far struggled to live up to their billing as reigning champions but they will have to find their form very quickly now as the league and T20 cup are already Ardmore’s only chance of silverware in 2024.
Gary McClintock’s team are still in the senior cup as well and there seems to be a bit of a glint in the eye at the Holm this season, so Ardmore have their work cut out on Saturday.
In the final game in Section A, Killyclooney, still searching for their first league point, look to get off the mark at home to Coleraine. The Bannsiders have been a little in and out this season and their batting collapse at Beechgrove in last week’s cup game was evidence of how quickly things can unravel.
Andy McBrine and Raymond Curry.
To be fair, we’ve also seen the flip side of that and the north coast team is well capable of ramming home an advantage if they do get on top. They will be favourites as they head down the Ballyheather Road, but there looks to be a lot of responsibility on the top four to bat the bulk of the overs.
In Section 2, St Johnston and Glendermott lead the way in the very early stages and both have home games on Saturday against Bonds Glen and Strabane respectively. Those two away teams look like they could do well in the league this season as well, so both of the leading pair will know they’ve been in a game this weekend.
The Saints also have a tough National Cup game on Sunday as they welcome Leinster side Terenure to the picturesque Boathole venue.
Strabane are in action on both days too- they were initially drawn away to Derriaghy in the National Cup, however a sanction imposed by Cricket Ireland at the end of last season sees the NCU team lose that advantage and have to travel to Tyrone instead.
Fox Lodge make the very short journey to Burndennett on Saturday and there is currently very little separating the neighbours in the league table. Aaron Heywood’s team then have home advantage on Sunday as they attempt to progress in the National Cup at the expense of NCU outfit, Templepatrick.
Ballyspallen host The Nedd in the one remaining league game on Saturday with both teams also still involved in the All-Ireland competition.
‘Spallen are away to Belfast side Laurelvale on Sunday while The Nedd have been drawn at home to Donacloney Mill in Round 2.
FIXTURES
Saturday – Longs SuperValu Premiership – Section 1 (12 noon starts) – Bready v Eglinton; Donemana v Ardmore; Newbuildings v Brigade; Killyclooney v Coleraine. Section 2 (12 noon starts) – Ballyspallen v The Nedd; St Johnston v Bonds Glen; Burndennett v Fox Lodge; Glendermott v Strabane
Sunday – Irish Senior Cup (12.30 start) – Brigade v Leinster. National Cup (1.30 start) – St Johnston v Terenure; Fox Lodge v Templepatrick; The Nedd v Donacloney Mill; Strabane v Derriaghy; Laurelvale v Ballyspallen