I don't intend to dwell on the outcome of the senior championship purely on the basis that you'll be reading plenty about it over the next couple of days but I would like to start this week by extending congratulations to Donemana Cricket Club not just on their title win, but on a superb season overall. The Holm side entered four domestic competitions this year and won the lot and also reached the semi finals in the two Inter- regional competitions- a truly amazing summer's work.
They did so without their two under-19 Internationals for 6 weeks to boot and while there have been one or two hard luck stories elsewhere, it is hard to argue with those stats. The rain came just in time ahead of Sunday's home match with Brigade I would hazard a guess as there were suggestions that the celebrations had ended (or been postponed at least) just before the umpires arrived. Probably a few sore heads knocking about the Tyrone village at the moment no doubt.
And while Richard Kee's side soaks up their success we are left with just one senior game in 2012, the winner-takes-all promotion/relegation play-off between Eglinton and Glendermott at Burndennett this coming Saturday. Regular readers of this column will probably be aware I'm totally opposed to the concept although I admit it does make for a fascinating season finale. The Rectory lads have won just over 44% of their matches in the top flight this year and yet find themselves in this precarious situation.
Just to put it into perspective in football terms, the two closest records to that in last season's English Premier League in terms of win/loss ratios belonged to Tottenham and Liverpool. On the flip side of that of course it is very difficult as well to argue that Eglinton thoroughly deserve a crack at the top flight after winning every single game in Division 2. As well as that clubs knew that this would be the case from the start of the season so we are where we are but there is going to be one seriously devastated changing room at Burndennett on Saturday night.
Fox Lodge will have been delighted to have avoided the play-off place and you have to wonder where the team that has now won five on the bounce since losing by 1 wicket to Brigade has been hiding all summer. Had they shown this level of form all year the Ballymagorry men could easily have been competing at the other end but at least they're safe now and Saturday's win was very well received by a party who had travelled all the way from Australia to lend their support.
Jonathan Heywood Junior (or JHJ to give him his Friday Club title) is currently home on holiday and was at the game with wife Nicole and son Adam. Jonny isn't any better at watching the Foxies than dad Adrian and the three of them (Adrian, Jonathan and Adam) had me dizzy they did that many laps. All's well that ends well but it was great to catch up with the former Foxies' batsman who can now relax and enjoy the rest of his holiday.
And finally this week there were several more trophies handed out on the local front over the past few days and it is only fair that all are given the recognition they deserve. Donemana and Coleraine under-19's served up a superb tie in their cup final at Eglinton on Friday night proving once again that this is the place to watch exciting cricket.
The Holm men also won Intermediate 1 under the guidance of Christopher Neely while Ian Cooke's Bready 3rds won Division 2. Johnny Murray picked up the Intermediate 3 trophy on behalf of The Nedd on Sunday while Damien O'Neill's Sion Mills had already been presented with the Intermediate 4 cup. Hearty congratulations to one on their successful seasons and the best of luck to both Eglinton and Glendermott for the weekend's big match.