Firsts get revenge on Mill Park and top the league table

Man of the Match - Davy Marshall - Bowling figures of 5 for 17 from 10 overs

It was derby day as local rivals Donaghcloney and Millpark competed in a top of the table clash. Both teams have played consistently all year with only 2 losses apiece, though Millpark held the psychological edge having comprehensively beaten the Cloney in the previous encounter this year.

The sun was shining in Tullylish and Donaghcloney skipper won the toss and elected to bat on what looked like a green wicket. The Millpark bowling attack was accurate from the start and Steven Lecky claimed the early scalps of Lyness Topping and Keith Martin. At 21 for 2 the visitors were under a little pressure but Colin Martin and Neil Carson steadied the ship. Colin batted with confidence and defied the wicket conditions by attacking the bowling of Lecky and Kidd reaching a score of 30 runs with some style. In a lapse of concentration he punched a long hop straight into cover points hands and his day with the bat was over. The partnership of 52 between Colin and Neil proved to be the best of both innings and the difference in the two teams. Neil battled on and grafted a well fought 45 in 40 overs while he watched his batting partners come and go at the other end. No one else scored many runs with the exception of young Peter Moates who chipped in with a valuable 10 at the end of the Innings. Donaghcloney were all out for 134 with the wickets shared equally amongst the Millpark bowlers.It was a moment of brilliance from young Moates that started the Millpark collapse. Fielding at mid off he took a fantastic one handed catch moving to his left to dismiss Steve McCort and give David Marshal the first of his 5 wickets for the day. David bowled straight and at the stumps with great accuaracy throughout his 9 over spell trapping 3 more batsmen in front of their wickets and hitting the timber to dismiss R. Menown. Meanwhile at the other end Jonny Stevenson got the vital wicket of Stuart Kidd who bat padded one to Steven Hanna fielding at silly midwicket. The fielding was a highlight of the day for the Cloney boys. The catches were all held and there were 3 run outs thanks to some superb work in the circle from Lyness Topping, Steven Hanna and Matthew Lyttle. Millpark capitulated to 51 all out on what was a very strong bowling and fielding performance from the Donagcloney team. Skipper Keith Martin said after “I felt 134 would be enough if we bowled to our potential and the guys didn’t let the team down. The fielding was top drawer and it was just nice to get one back on Millpark after they defeated us earlier in the season”