Eglinton start favourites for new look Senior Two

BBC Radio Foyle’s cricket correspondent Barry Chambers gives his predictions to how Senior Two will finish this season.

Just seven teams contest Senior Two this year and although Ballyspallen and debut makers Newbuildings are joining the Union, both will begin new life in Intermediate Division 1. As I understand it the team that wins Division 2 this year will play off against the team that finishes eighth in Division 1; a contentious one-off game determining the 8th place in the restructured top flight in 2013.

Following the withdrawal of The Nedd it’s unclear as to whether two teams will be relegated from Senior One or two from Senior Two to accommodate two eight team leagues.

The Duckworth Lewis system is being introduced into both Division 1 and 2 league and cup competitions to try to reduce the number of midweek replays and a new online scorecard system is also becoming compulsory. No doubt it will all take a while to bed in for both players and spectators but here’s a list of the combatants and their changes from last season as the action gets under way.

Eglinton - The Villagers won’t want to dwell on a bitterly disappointing 2011 and despite the fact that the top flight is being trimmed to seven teams next year, they appear thoroughly focused on being among the elite when that happens. Karl O’Doherty keeps the skippers armband and will be ably assisted by Christopher Pierce, one of the few players to enjoy much success last term but those two will have plenty of experience around them if the going gets tough. Andy Christie has a major role to play at the top of the order and Richard Stewart looks set to feature despite hinting at retirement during the winter. Jonny Gardiner stays too but the signing of Stephen Smyth is the real eye-catcher. The left hander could wreak total havoc at this level if he is in the mood and he is the main reason the Villagers start the season as warm favourites to finish top. The experiment of bringing in Ryan Butterworth didn’t work last season; the Zimbabwean is an undoubtedly class player but the club didn’t get to see the best of him and the loss of Mark Averill could hurt more.

Spokesman John Pierce also suggested that “While promotion back to Division 1 remains the fullest priority we will continue to develop the younger players at every opportunity. The likes of Ross Allen, Andrew Pierce, Jamie Millar and Stephen Kennedy will more than likely get their chance to show what they can do and the experience of the more senior players can help them develop.

We have six trophies to play for this year so a good squad is essential and we will be very disappointed if we don’t feature on the winners rostrum somewhere along the line.”

With almost the same squad that played in the top flight, and Smyth added in for good measure, Eglinton know there will be few better chances to bounce straight back.

Professional - None; Skipper - Karl O’Doherty; Ins - Stephen Smyth; Outs - Mark Averill (Drummond), Ryan Butterworth; Last season- Relegated; Prediction - 1st.

Ardmore - Ardmore are always among the favourites to win trophies at this level and that is likely to be the case again this season however the Bleachgreen side has struggled to cope with availability of key players in the past few years and once again that could be pivotal to their chances. Brian Brolly burst on the scene for them in 2009 but the strike bowler has played precious little cricket in the past two seasons and the likes of Ciaran Curley, Damien Gallagher and Gerard Brolly are others who could add plenty to the cause if they were around. Ciaran McDermott could well be their one to watch however new skipper Lee Brolly’s first job might well be trying to hold on to their young bowler as there are believed to be suitors eyeing him up. Ardmore have brought in Ankur Kulhari (AK) who opened the bowling for Bready Seconds last season and are also believed to have registered a number of Indians that have recently come to the parish similar to St Johnston a few years back. Former skipper George Brolly reasoned that “there are 3 or 4 useful cricketers among them who will strengthen up our second team and who could be pushing to get into the first team. Despite rumour to the contrary, Adrian Murphy is returning to the club as well and will be vice captain and if we can show a bit more consistency we won’t be far away.”

Ardmore’s promotion prospects would depend very heavily on both of those factors (availability and consistency) but with the likes of Murphy around they certainly cannot be ruled out in the race for silverware, particularly in the cup competitions.

Professional- None; Skipper - Lee Brolly; Ins - Ankur Kulhari; Outs - Gerard McAuley (Burndennett), Kyle Martin (Strabane); Last season- Finished 3rd; Prediction - 2nd.

Drummond - Were easily the surprise package in this division last time, Gordon Cooke’s boys managing to split the more fancied Creevedonnell and Ardmore in the title race and the experience could well stand them in good stead.

The former Ireland International pace bowler enjoyed a magnificent season with both bat and ball and the youngsters in the team seemed to be buoyed by Cooke’s example. Clive Rodgers started the season on fire as well but then didn’t play after the first few weeks and that took a bit of the sting out of them for a while. Rodgers has now returned to Ballyspallen but Mark Averill is a more than useful replacement. The all-rounder had a really good season at Eglinton last time despite the club being relegated and I wouldn’t underestimate the impact he could make at his new home. Jason Scott and Stevie Moore will be around as well, Moore another man who can be very hard to handle when he’s in the mood.

There are several youngsters progressing nicely at Drummond and their second XI could improve on third place in the Intermediate league giving Cooke options for the future.

All in all however they will do really well to re-produce last season’s magnificent efforts and although it could be difficult to break into the top two again, they won’t be too far away.

Professional - None; Skipper - Gordon Cooke; Ins - Jamie Millar (not the Eglinton one), Mark Averill. Outs - Clive Rodgers, Ryan O’Neill (both to Ballyspallen); Last year - 2nd; Prediction - 3rd.

St Johnston - It was an in and out year at the Boathole in 2011; the Saints seemingly knocked back by their experiences in the top flight a year earlier and taking some time to recover their hunger.

It wasn’t all doom and gloom of course with the Sperrin Springs Cup finding its way back to Donegal towards the end of the summer however the league form was disappointing with just six wins from their 12 matches completed. David MacBeth retains the armband and will be keen to rally the troops this time and despite losing Bobby Rao to retirement the Saints believe they have plenty of new blood coming through capable of marking a mark on this division. Youngster Michael Rankin is expected to move to the top of the order and David Lapsley likely to take the new ball as the club gives youth a chance. Kushpal Singh, still only 19 enjoyed an excellent début season last time and ought to improve for that while 14-year old Ryan MacBeth will also play senior cricket in 2012.

Former skipper Andrew Fleming expects to play more this coming summer and with the three MacBeths and James Robinson adding the experience the Saints look to have a good mix as they look to get back into the promotion picture.

Professional- None; Skipper - David MacBeth; Ins - None; Outs - Bobby Rao (retired); Last season - Finished 4th; Prediction - 4th.

Burndennett - The misery of seeing the side finish bottom of the table in 2011 has haunted Burndennett all winter long and there seems to have been a collective gathering of wills to ensure there is no repeat this time. Last year was something of a silly season, the team’s only three league wins coming against the sides to eventually finish in the top three places and two of them happening on consecutive days! Off the field was a testing time too, the club bidding farewell to the man who epitomised Burndennett, Toby McGettigan, but that loss appears to be the factor galvanizing them now. Gerard McAuley returns to Burndennett after several years at Ardmore and “Nippy” is a more than useful addition at this standard but while that is a a decent signing for them, the big news could be the return of two more “old boys” in John McGettigan and Aidan Boyle. Both have been touted as returning in the past only for circumstances to dictate otherwise but the signs are that both have agreed to play for a season at least and while neither has played any cricket in the past couple of seasons they are two quality players. Burndennett have yet to appoint a skipper but Mark Doherty looks favourite to keep the job and with Stephen McCay around as well, you would have to think the top end of the table looks more realistic in 2012. That however will be dictated by whether or not the big guns are finally let off the leash.

Professional- None; Skipper - To be confirmed; Ins - Gerard McAuley, John McGettigan, Aidan Boyle; Outs - None; Last season - 8th; Prediction - 5th.

Sion Mills - Last season ended up being quite successful for the Tyrone side as having been forced to field without both John Browne and Lee McGonigle for the whole summer they still managed to finish fifth in the league. Kevin Gallagher was the star of their show and the younger brother of former Strabane and current Phoenix all-rounder, Ryan, is again one of the men that the club will look to as they set their sights on further improvement.

It is impossible to rate Sion’s chances this year for a hosts of reasons but secretary Simon Galloway is in no doubt that everything is in order for a decent campaign. “We may not be bringing in any new players this year but it will feel like we have as Lee McGonigle has been training hard and looks as sharp as ever after his year out injured. John Browne is back too after his daughter Laura has finally been allowed home having spent more than a year in the Royal Victoria Hospital.

“Despite the fact that Laura still requires medical attention at home, John will be available to play at least some of the time however the North West have allowed him to step down to the second XI so that he can nurture a very young team. Kevin Gallagher is shaping up to be a real talent and there are still plenty around the squad who can have a big say in games.”

Simon could well be referring to the likes of Lee Finlay, Mark Patterson and indeed himself but the return of Lee McGonigle is a real boost. They may be some way from the heady heights reached by Sion teams of old but as an unknown quantity I wouldn’t want to be too quick to write off the Mill side.

Professional - None; Skipper - Ryan O’Neill; Ins - None; Outs - None; Last season - 5th; Prediction - 6th.

Killyclooney - They have certainly been one of the most progressive North West clubs in recent times and the likes of Ken Colhoun deserve the utmost credit for the fact that they have been able to introduce many youngsters into senior cricket here. Unfortunately for themselves large numbers of those players then subsequently moved on but the process has continued undeterred.

Killyclooney have become almost Donemana - like in that they would be a different proposition if they were able to field a team that came up through their own youth structure.

Mark Snodgrass and Kyle Barr are headed to Beechgrove this year, which seems a slightly strange move given that neither at this stage would appear to be destined for the first team while William McElhatton is thought to be on his way to Bonds Glen however one of the prodigal sons, Ashley Buchanan, seems set to return from Donemana. The likes of James Colhoun, Mark Gordon, Alan Colhoun and McMorris are all tried and tested at this level and all again will be pivotal to Killyclooney’s hopes for a successful season. A club insider also suggested that youngsters Timothy Dougherty and Jordan Connor will both be given their chance in the first team this summer and with the possible return of Buchanan to the fold they hoped for a better showing in the league and cups. Realistically however they will know that the next Graeme McCarter isn’t overly obvious at this stage and the season is likely to be about consolidating and hoping to get some experience into the younger players.

A mid-table finish and a cup run or two would do very nicely.

Professional - None; Skipper - Richard McMorris; Ins - Ashley Buchanan; Outs - Mark Snodgrass, Kyle Barr (both Brigade); Last season - Joint 7th; Prediction - 7th.