Ardmore face play-off but Curry unlikely to get closer

ARDMORE will meet Ballyspallen on Saturday to decide the final place in next season’s Long’s SuperValu Premiership.

Bready will be the venue for the game between the seventh place team in this year’s top flight and the runners-up in the Championship, with all positions confirmed after the weekend’s action — and non-action.

Ardmore won their final match of the season, beating Donemana by 40 runs, but because of Eglinton’s victory at Bready — the champions’ fifth defeat — they were left in the relegation play-off place, even before Eglinton’s game against Coleraine was abandoned yesterday.

Burndennett were unable to field a team for their home game against Glendermott and the walk-over confirmed the Rectory side as winners of the Championship and automatic promotion.

With Glendermott having beaten Killyclooney by seven wickets on Saturday, the only other title contenders were left in third place, giving Ballyspallen the runner-up spot and a one-off chance to go up to the Premiership.

The play-off also gives Decker Curry the chance to score his 100th career century but surely he will not come as close as Saturday when he was dismissed for 93, caught by former team-mate Andrew Riddles.

His 91-ball innings, which included eight fours and six sixes, helped Ardmore to 247-8 in their 35 overs and although Riddles top scored in the Donemana reply with 66, last year’s champions never threatened to get close, despite losing only six wickets.

Fox Lodge surrendered their top flight status tamely — they failed to win any of their last seven matches — bowled out at Sandel Lodge for 107 as Scott Campbell and Rishi Chopra each took five wickets. The Bannsiders knocked off the runs for the loss of four wickets in the 28th over, with Chopra finishing 37 not out.

Bready, with nothing to play for, fared even worse than the Foxes, dismissed for only 99 by a fired-up Eglinton, professional Mike Erlank hitting 59 not out, with 10 fours and a six as he hurried his side to safety, reaching the target in just 18 overs.