Holders Brigade reach T20 Senior Cup last four

The Bannsiders were the first to qualify last weekend and they were soon joined by Bready early on Saturday afternoon after the Magheramason men’s game at Fox Lodge - the only team capable of denying them top spot in the group - was washed out.

Only eight overs in total was possible at Donemana where the home side were keen to qualify in style against a Killyclooney outfit that had already lowered their colours in this competition.

The visitors made 59-5 as they batted first in a match reduced to just 8 apiece; William Finlay top scoring with 18* while Darren Moan added 15 at the top of the order.

Andy McBrine claimed 2-12 for the winners and there was a wicket apiece for Dean Mehaffey, Jordan McGonigle and Levi Dougherty.

Heavy rain returned to the Tyrone village in between innings meaning no further play was possible as Donemana advanced to Monday’s senior cup draw.

The final senior cup spot went to Brigade who just needed to match Newbuildings’ result against St Johnston to progress as well.

Andy Britton’s men were at the Rectory on Saturday with their game reduced to 18 overs apiece after another delayed start.

The home team came flying out of the traps as Scott Laird hit 5 sixes, 2 fours and three singles in an entertaining 41 from just 15 balls.

Skipper Alan Johnson hit 3 ‘maximums’ in a breezy 21 as Glendermott raced to 58-2 after just 4 overs before wickets started to fall regularly.

Ryan Macbeth claimed 2-18 for the visitors before the real damage came in the middle overs from skipper Britton.

His four wickets for just two runs coupled with 2-11 from Iftikhar Hussain saw the Bonds Street lads slump from 86-5 to 94 all out with more than four overs left unused.

Brigade, with one eye on the gathering gloom needed less than 10 overs to chase down the target.

A 75-run second wicket stand between David Murdock who hit 4 sixes and 4 fours in his 17-ball 46, and Ryan Hunter (35*) ripped the game away from the hosts.

Murdock hit a car with one six and sent another sailing towards the Limavady Road as the current cup holders advanced in style.

In the other games to escape the weather, Newbuildings completed an excellent group campaign with a high-scoring win over St Johnston at Foyle View.

Batting first in a 16-over contest the Saints racked up 179-4 with Scott Macbeth making 54*, Michael Rankin 45 and Jack Macbeth 36.

The Macbeth brothers did a fantastic job opening the innings while Rankin cut loose from the start as the runs flowed.

Unperturbed, the hosts set about the reply in style with skipper Gareth McKeegan thumping 8 fours and 4 sixes in his 63 while Mark Hanna added an agressive 45 (5 sixes, 2 fours).

Johnny Thompson made an unbeaten 30 and Ross Dougherty 21 to see Newbuildings over the line with 7 wickets and 2 overs to spare.

McKeegan’s men will now be fancying their chances in the knock-out stages of the Faughan Valley Cup.

In the day’s final game, Strabane’s miserable group campaign ended in a 108-run defeat at Burndennett.

Gary Neely top scored with 58 as ’Dennett posted 176-5; Mark Doherty chipping in with 40 and Aaron McNamee 27.

The Red Caps replied with 68 - Neely returning figures of 3-8 while Mark Pollock, Mark Roulston and Ross McCay picked up two wickets each.