Bready beat St Johnston by four wickets to win a tense u18 Cup final at The Boathole.

Batting first, St Johnston lost two early wickets to Travis Faulkner and Jamie Mutch to be struggling at 19 for 2 in the 7th over - Aaron Cooke conceding just 11 runs in an excellent four-over spell too.

Ryan McAuley (20) added 38 for the third wicket with Sam Macbeth, but the impetus of the innings changed completely with the arrival to the middle of Jake McKnight.

Runners-up St Johnston

He clubbed two fours and cleared the ropes twice in a hard-hit unbeaten 36 from just 21 balls, adding 54 in the last five overs with skipper Macbeth, whose 46 not out included five boundaries.

A total of 115 for 3 gave the Saints something to defend, and the early wicket of Irish youth international Gavin Roulston boosted their hopes further.

Player of the Match Sam Macbeth

That was one of four wickets for Man-of-the-Match Sam Macbeth (4-20) who also accounted for Johnny Orr, Sam Stott and his counterpart - Bready skipper Aaron Cooke who hit three sixes in an entertaining 12-ball 23.

Winners Bready

When Goud Sama had Jamie Mutch caught by Macbeth - who else! - quickly followed by bowling Eoghan Reynolds, the contest was really in the balance at 83 for 6.

Swarnim Jha though was the player for the crisis, as he calmly hit five boundaries in an excellent unbeaten 31, finding the perfect foil in James McMorris (6*) as the pair stayed cool to get the 33 runs required.

An excellent final in front of a big home crowd at one of Irish cricket's most picturesque venues.

Bready captain Aaron Cooke

Bready will now go forward to represent the North West in the All-Ireland semi-finals next month.

U18 BOYS CUP FINAL

At The Boathole, Bready beat St Johnston by 4 wickets

St Johnston 115/3 (20 overs; Sam Macbeth 46, Jake McKnight 36, Ryan McAuley 20)

Bready 117/3 (17.1 overs; Swarnim Jha 31*, Aaron Cooke 23; Sam Macbeth 4-20, P Goud Sama 2-21)