The North West season is building up to a tremendous climax. It is a straight race now between two sides that have had the most phenomenal year.

Donemana have been front runners in the league all season and are still in pole position. Throw into the mix that they have picked up the Faughan Valley Cup, reached the Senior Cup semi final and an All Ireland final not to mention the success of their youth sides and the Intermediates then whatever happens from here they can be extremely proud of their achievements. The fact that they could still end the season as a treble winning team puts into perspective the incredible job they do developing players. The only thing predictable other than the rain in an Ulster summer is the pundits writing off Donemana in general and the McBrines in particular. Yet the twins keep producing performances and the club keep producing exciting young cricketers.

For me someone like Noel Dunn is worth his weight in gold. His enthusiasm for the game is undiminished and that is transmitted to the kids. If you are fired with enthusiasm people will come from miles around to watch you burn! Youth development is a culture that exists in the club and they have continued to develop the youngsters despite the fact that over the years they have lost many of those players to other clubs. For those of you who don't know North West cricket I can assure you that they didn't leave Donemana to go to bigger or better clubs. You could select a hell of a good team from ex-Donemana players as the current Ireland captain will testify.

However despite all the success they have had over the years there is no petty jealousy towards them and you can be assured that the North West cricket supporters will be turning up at Strabane to cheer on the underdogs against the might of North County on 5th September in the Irish Senior Cup final.

Limavady are the current league leaders and if they are to stand a chance of picking up the league title they are doing the right things. Although Donemana have games in hand, Limavady have points on the board and at this crucial time of the season that could make all the difference. The pressure knowing you have to win is huge especially when you cannot afford a slip up. Donemana showed signs of the pressure getting to them against Bready and the saving grace was that they didn't lose. A tie keeps their league aspirations alive.

Limavady for their part must be rueing that opening day defeat to Eglinton. Since then they have had the most incredible season and they are also looking to put the tin hat on a sensational effort. The Ulster Cup winners and Senior Cup champions have also picked up the Faughan Valley Charity Cup and performed heroics in the All Ireland to boot. A league title would also equate to one of their greatest ever seasons. The thing I like about them is they play hard but fair and are always generous in victory and gracious in defeat. They have been led superbly this season by David Cooke and all his team have contributed to the cause at some stage over the campaign. The form of Richard McDaid and Desmond Curry however has been fantastic. Richard has bowled with intelligence and pace and has always produced runs when they were needed. With a 1000 runs under his belt it is hard to come up with any more superlatives for Decker. His performance against Donemana in the Senior Cup was astonishing and he is quite simply the greatest club cricketer Ireland has ever produced.

Limavady and Donemana have proved that they are the best two sides in the North West. Indeed for 2008 they have proved that they are the best two sides in Ulster. Were Donemana to win the ISC, then between them they will have won every major competition entered by the North West senior teams. Whatever happens from here you can be assured that the region will have two sides that lit up a season of rain and gloom with top class exhibitions of sportsmanship and performance.