…as the NCU packs in five important cup finals and the Metal Technology Twenty20 finale. There’s no finer moment in club cricket than reaching the cup final, no matter at what level, so there will be plenty of anxious moments watching weather forecasts in the next 24 hours. And let’s pay tribute to the groundsmen at all venues, as it must have been a nightmare trying to get grounds prepared over the past ten days.
All five cup finals will have their own appeal but the weekend has special significance for Waringstown as three of their teams will be in action, and the club will be staging one of the games. All eyes will be on the sky en route to Downpatrick on Friday for the TCH Down Democrat Challenge Cup final as the Villagers face the high-flying Civil Service North, playing in their first senior cup final as a new entity. Cup finals are not about current form as the outcome depends on who performs best on the day, and with a one innings format it is all or nothing on the one day.
Waringstown has suffered most this season with Ireland call-ups, but all hands are on deck on Friday, and much will be expected from big guns Kyle McCallan, James Hall and Gary Kidd if Simon Harrison is to become another member of Ulster cricket’s most famous dynasty to lift the magnificent NCU Senior Challenge Cup trophy. Surrey and Ireland batsman Gary Wilson will be the man to watch from the Belfast club, although they have a strong all round team, and perhaps this is the year when Wayne Horwood kills his cup final loser’s tag?
Weather permittingOsbourneParkwill host the Goldblatt McGuigan Junior Cup final on Saturday between Academy and Templepatrick, who have beaten each other once in the league this season, so there’s not much to chose between them on past performance. Youth versus experience might be the key contest with the seemingly ageless Davy Greenlees and Brian Kelso pitched against Templepatrick’s exciting young Robert Smith, who crashed 148 against Dungannon earlier this season.
The Intermediate Cup final will feature Muckamore Seconds and Laurelvale seconds at either Pollock Park or Laurelvale depending on the weather. It’s always interesting to see old faces in the teams and was that Benny Craig who starred in the semi final for the Moylena men? What a character. Benny featured in the NCU senior cup final 45 years ago! Time will not age them…
On the same day Waringstown Thirds and Fourths battle for the Cleaver Black Minor Cup at the Lawn, and in club games anything can happen. The Thirds are two leagues above their club mates, but it may take wee Roy and Muriel to umpire this game rather than the appointed officials to keep the peace! Well done both teams to reach the final.
At least this one is easy to predict, as Waringstown should win!
Finally, no pun intended, it is off to Eaton Park where Ballymena Fourths face their current league leaders Laurelvale Thirds in the Lindsay Minor final sponsored by Flannigan, Edmonds and Bannon. If form is a guideline then Laurelvale’s six wickets victory three weeks ago might be a telling factor, but home advantage might also weigh in favour of the locals. Either way, it’s good to see popular umpiring stalwart Sylvan Reid still much to the fore, and let’s hope Jupiter Pluvious doesn’t ruin his day.
All five finals are showpieces of the NCU season, and deserve the full support of its members, particularly in honour of the players who have won their way to the finals and to the sponsors who generously continue to support our cup cricket.
Let the sun shine and the cricket win.
CLARENCE HILES
EDITOR
