The planned storybook ending was a Ballymena win with David Kennedy last season’s player of the year in the NCU Premier league for North Down returning to face his former colleagues at Comber.
Downpatrick obviously had not read the script as they eased to an eventual 3-wicket win with more than two overs to spare. However it was not all plain sailing.
Ballymena batted first and after losing both Williams and Taylor with just 31 on the board David Kennedy was joined by his brother James the Ballymena captain and the crowd waited in anticipation.
With the score on 51 a mix up between the brothers resulted in David making his way back to the pavilion run out for 22. Downpatrick captain James Cunningham had held back that wily campaigner Geoffrey Ferguson to bowl the last ten overs from one end and soon had his reward.
In quick succession Ferguson removed both Montgomeryfor 19 and Fisher for 3 leaving the visitors precariously placed at 105 for 5. The other Kennedy, Robert then joined James and the pair added 65 for the sixth wicket until Paul Tate bowled James for 71 with the second last ball of the innings.
Kennedy had done what he probably felt he had to do after the run out incident and that was to bat through to give Ballymena a respectable total. It could have been so much different if Neil Gelston and clung on to an early chance at second slip but he rode his luck and finished on 71 from 107 balls with 6 fours.
Of the Downpatrick bowlers, Ferguson finished with 2 for 23 off 10 and Gelston had 0 for 29. Both were possibly overshadowed by Dale Mullan who looks a new man relieved of the shackles of captaincy with remarkable figures of 10 overs, 5 maidens, 1 for 12.
Downpatrick’s reply began slowly with Mullan caught behind by Neil Fullerton off Michael Glass and James Magowan caught by David Kennedy off Williams. Neil Gelston and Geoffrey Ferguson took control moving the total to 87, when the introduction of Simon McDowell seemed to swing things back in the visitors favour.
First he bowled Fergusonfor 23 and then watched as Gelston and Cunningham messed it up, result Gelston run out for 45 after striking 6 fours. All the while the run rate was creeping up to between 5 and 6 an over.
101 for 5 became 127 for 6 as Stephen Ferguson became McDowell’s second wicket. Step up Aaron Ferris to finally swing the momentum Downpatrick’s way. He hit two sixes the second off the returning Michael Glass, who admittedly had his revenge next ball, but the home side were tightening their grip on the tie.
Gavin Ringland with 21 not out and Paul Tate with 12 not out saw them across the line safely. The only thing that Ballymena took with them on the trip home was the Down Democrat Man of Match award, which NCU President Ian Gourley awarded to James Kennedy for his innings earlier in the day.
Perhaps the surprise result of the day was at the other “Meadow”, that is the one inhabited by Downpatrick’s near rivals Dundrum who this year for the first time in their history are promoted to Section Two.
Holywood were the visitors and seemed well placed on 107 for 2 after Dundrum had spurned a number of early chances. As the sun broke through suddenly the fielders seemed to warm up and captain Rodney Hassard was the beneficiary as three outstanding catches were held. Holywood slumped to 136 all out with Philip McCormick top scoring with 38 and Hassard returning the analysis of 4 for 17.
In reply Hassard sealed the TCH award contributing 32 to a 77 run third wicket partnership with debutant John Tormey himself a former Downpatrick player. Undoubtedly though Tormey played the innings of the day with 58. Homeless Premier league side Cliftonville will I am sure not be relishing the trip in the second round.
Meanwhile in other matches Muckamore comprehensively outplayed Saintfield to win by 129 runs; with Brian Baguley making 80 and Trevor Neill took 5 for 25. Saintfield’s Ray McCavery made 56 out of their total of 98 as the last seven wickets capitulated for 11 runs.
Lurgan cantered to a 10-wicket victory in the Mid Ulster derby against Armagh with fifties for both Martin van Niekirk and Stephen Johnston, earlier Nicky McCollum took 3 for 23 and van Niekirk 2 for 18 to seal the MOM as Armagh struggled to 155 for 9.
Woodvale earned a home tie in next round against Waringstown with an 8 wicket win at Dunmurry. There were three wickets each for Ian Cleland and Paul Robinson, Neil Connolly (68) and Mark Sweeney (44) added 112 for Dunmurry 4th wicket, but 79 from Simon Johnston saw Woodvale home with 20 overs to spare.
Former Irish international badminton player Bruce Topping starred with the bat making 70 not out as Laurelvale eased to an 8 wicket victory over Cooke Collegians, but his team-mate Wayne Pearson still picked up the TCH MOM award for his 6 for 20.
Full second round draw:
Lisburn v CIYMS
North Down v Downpatrick
Instonians v Bangor
Lurgan v Derriaghy
Woodvale v Waringstown
Laurelvale v CSNI
Carrickfergus v Muckamore
Dundrum v Cliftonville
All match to be played on May 17
