For Downpatrick it is a chance to put their credentials to the test against a Ballymena side now containing the finest player of the last number of years in the NCU, David Kennedy.
Those who were there will doubtless remember the last innings Kennedy played at The Meadow, a Man of the Match performance in the 2007 Down Democrat final as North Down defeated rivals Waringstown. Kennedy’s innings was cut short at 80 when he seemed destined for a deserved cup final century.
I spoke to James Cunningham the Downpatrick captain for his thoughts at the end of a difficult week:
“Firstly I would like to thank the Ballymena club and in particular captain James Kennedy for their sympathetic approach to the club’s bereavement this week. Despite not playing at the weekend we are in good spirits and looking forward to the cup.
Last weekend we played in the Twenty20 tournament run by North Down and emerged as winners; in the semi-final we beat Lisburn by 8 wickets and defeated the hosts North Down by 3 wickets in the final, two notable senior scalps. Geoffrey Ferguson was named player of the tournament with runs and wickets in both games.
The carrot for both sides next Saturday is the prospect of a second round tie against Down Democrat cup holders North Down at The Green, Comber. I am sure David Kennedy would relish a return to the club but equally it is up to us to stop him.
We have not played Ballymena in a few seasons now and with the rearrangement of the league game for the Bank Holiday Monday we potentially face them twice at The Meadow in the space of three days.”
These two matches will provide an early barometer of what exactly faces the home club in their quest to bounce straight back up to the Premier section of the league. If they can succeed in stopping Kennedy scoring then perhaps this will be the difference between winning and losing.
Both matches will be played without the services of new professional David Johnson. Professionals are ineligible in the cup anyway. Johnson has received clearance to play from the Unionand is currently going through the final details of securing a work permit.
Saintfield who by coincidence beat Ballymena in the first round upset of last year’s competition are awaiting the visit of Muckamore. This match has particular significance for the new Saintfield captain Richard Owens, himself a former Muckamore player:
“I am looking forward to the game and I think it is going to be a tight match. We hope to have a full squad available including Byron Woodruff, which would be a lift for us.
I have always maintained that the league is our priority and whilst it would have been preferable to play last weekend and get a game under the belt I am confident that we will give a good account of ourselves. Any progress we make in the cup will be an added bonus.
Dundrum will look to put the disappointment of losing out on playing their first ever match in Section Two in the league behind them and will fancy their chances against Holywood.
Holywood began with a pretty unconvincing five wicket victory over Laurelvale last weekend despite only needing 78 to win they turned this into a struggle and indeed if Laurelvale had held their chances it may have been a different story.
Captain Rodney Hassard will be looking to his key players including himself, Darren Oldroyd and new wicketkeeper John Tormey to make an early impression and put a mark down for other clubs that they will be no pushovers especially at “The Meadow.
In the three remaining fixtures Lurgan themselves off the back of relegation face a mid Ulsterderby at home against Armagh. Realistically the home side should have too much firepower and will be looking to wrap this one up.
Woodvale who won the Challenge Cup as recently as 1998 are away to Dunmurry. The winners of this one will be at home to last year’s beaten finalists Waringstown and I am sure the memories for Dunmurry are still fresh of last years hammering at the hands of the same opposition as Keith Morrison took 7 wickets including a hat trick.
The final tie sees Laurelvale at home to Cooke Collegians and despite the defection of Paul McCrum to CIYMS, a side containing the experience of Charlie McCrum, Bruce Topping, Noel Nelson and Wayne Pearson should be more than capable of progressing to the next round.
Courtesy of the Down Democrat
