CRICKET: Damp squib for Championship sides in Sammy Jeffrey & Ulster Shield ties

The bails fly as Glendermott batsman Simon Killen is bowled out during Sunday's match against Muckamore. INLS2716-162KM

However there was some shred of consolation in the knowledge that Sunday’s O’Neill’s Ulster Shield quarter finals would be decided on the day, one way or the other.

Unfortunately it ended up being the other - Glendermott losing at home to Muckamore while Fox Lodge were beaten in a bowl-out by Bangor - thus ending the local Union’s interest for this season.

Ryan Haire was at his brilliant best as Muckamore batted first at the Rectory; the former Ireland International started steadily but then let the handbrake off in scintillating style, smashing 9 sixes and 7 fours on his way to a match-winning 132.

Avadhoot Dandekar added a stylish 81 (13 fours) while Trevor McDermott claimed three wickets for the hosts although Charlie Elder (2-16 from 8) was by some way the pick of the bowlers.

Chasing 318 in 40 overs is a trick in itself, even at the Bonds Street venue, but for a while the visitors were rattled - especially when Azeem Ghumman and Gordon Montgomery were together early in the reply.

Montgomery was by far the more aggressive of the pair - hitting 5 sixes and 3 fours on his way to a half century before running out of petrol, while Ghumman played some glorious shots in his 93 (15 fours and a six).

Alan Johnson (26) landed a few lofty blows towards the end but any hopes of pulling off a miraculous recovery followed Ghumman back to the clubhouse.

Three wickets apiece for Dandekar and Neill Gill and a couple for Calum Weir finally ended proceedings with the visitors still a long way in front.

Fox Lodge were unable to record a second bowl-out win in the tournament as they lost 2-0 to Bangor.

There was one league match scheduled for Sunday and that saw Newbuildings go joint-second in the table with a 118-run win at home to Burndennett.

Dean Mehaffey was the hero of the hour for Dale Culbert’s team; hitting 15 fours in a really composed 116.

At the other end, Mark Hanna added 12 fours and a six in his 70 while Ross Hunter chipped in with 27 as Newbuildings posted 285 for 5 in their 50 overs.

Mark Doherty (4-21) fared much the best of the bowlers with Eddie McGettigan claiming 2-49. Burndennett’s reply simply never got going and it took a half century from Gerard McAuley to breathe any life into it.

Mark Roulston and Stephen McCay both added 23 but that was to be it as Culbert with 3 wickets and Trent McKeegan, Jason Dunn and Ross Hunter with 2 apiece saw their side home to a comfortable win.