Brigade edged out Donemana in the game of the day, while Graeme McCarter and Marcus Poskitt scored hundreds in one-wicket wins for St Johnston and Coleraine. There were also wins for Fox Lodge, Killyclooney and Strabane.

It's the fixture that always leaps out when the season’s schedule is published and this year it’s the only time that Brigade and Donemana will meet in the NW Premiership.

It’s been a superb start to the season for Burndennett top-order batsman Mark Pollock, who was yet again amongst the runs in their Irish National Cup win over Laois.

They hope to have clinched a short-term deal for Sri Lankan all-rounder Geeth Kumara, who was instrumental in securing a historic first Senior Cup triumph for Fox Lodge last year, as they stunned favourites Newbuildings.

The results went by the form book in Monday night's action in the Women'ss Premier League with wins for defending champions Bready, Fox Lodge and Coleraine.

MCC edged to a 14-runs (DLS) win against North West Warriors despite an unbeaten century from Scott Macbeth.

Killyclooney lost a thriller by just two runs at home in the Senior Cup to Ardmore, and will look to bounce back from that disappointment as they host Templepatrick in the National Cup on Saturday.

The All-Ireland is always a fantastic occasion for the club through the years. We have had some good battles with clubs from other provinces and I’m sure Carrickfergus will be no different.

The Hills await Heywood’s charges on Saturday and it gives an opportunity to atone for a horror display against the same opposition last season.

Strabane caused the surprise of the first round of the Senior Cup as they beat Bready. They have been boosted by the arrival of professional Nasir Nawaz. Aaron Gillespie reflects and looks ahead to the challenge of Rush in National Cup.

Sion Mills win for the third time as they impress in a victory at Donemana.

Another look at performances beyond the senior world, including another century for Sam McClintock plus five wickets for Ryan Daniels and Robert Millar.

Ryan, Scott and Jack Macbeth have been named in the Warriors squad that will play the MCC at Strabane on Thursday (11:30am).

There's no doubt about the tie of the round as Donemana host Brigade, with the two teams the most successful in the competition in recent times - winning it 10 times between them in the past 11 years!

Champions Bready started the defence of their Women's Premier league with a comprehensive win over newly promoted Bonds Glen. There were also opening night wins for Fox Lodge and Coleraine.

There were plenty of runs for the batsmen of the North West, none more so than Ross Dougherty of Newbuildings who made 201 not out in a record win over Letterkenny.

Aaron Gillespie has been in the runs as Strabane start their Premiership qualification quest.

Fox Lodge captain Kara Bates has paid tribute to her side as the Ballymagorry side collected their first silverware of the new season.

Sion captain Andy Lucas certainly led by example with a magnificent all-round effort helping his side beat champions Bready by four wickets chasing 223.

They now face a really daunting task as they have an away day trip in the Senior Cup at league leaders Donemana, for whom Dwayne McGerrigle scored 123 and took six wickets as they beat Eglinton.

Fox Lodge bounced back from their opening day loss to cause a surprise of their own as they beat a highly fancied Brigade. Johnny ‘Bap’ Robinson was to the fore as he and Gayan Maneeshan produced the match winning partnership.  

There's a real David versus Goliath feel as competition debutants Letterkenny take on Premiership champions Newbuildings.

A look at what has been happening down the leagues with hundreds for Andy Lucas, Chris Dixon and Dylan Lynch the highlights.

Teenager Charlie Downey took five wickets to claim the Man of the Match award for Newbuildings who beat Fox Lodge by 47 runs in a high scoring Sam McConnell T20 Charity final at the Rectory.

Fox Lodge beat arch rivals Bready to collect the first silverware of the season in front of a decent crowd at The Rectory.

Former Brigade and Creevedonnell cricketer, William Wilson has been confirmed as the new President of Cricket Ireland following today’s AGM, replacing the outgoing David Griffin.

An inspired all-round display by Dwayne McGerrigle took Donemana to the top of the table. Wins too for Bready, Ardmore, Fox Lodge, Killyclooney, Bonds Glen and Strabane.

Pick of tomorrow’s action in the NW Premiership looks to be the clash at The Holm, where Donemana will be strengthened by the arrival of Zimbabwe professional Roy Kaia, who missed their thumping 106 runs victory over Bonds Glen.

Strabane have confirmed the signing of Pakistan all-rounder Nasir Nawaz as their overseas professional for the current campaign.

New Donemana captain Dwayne McGerrigle helped his side make a winning start. What has persuaded the former Irish international to take the captain's armband again?

Newly promoted Sion Mills picked up where they left off from last season, getting off to a winning start at home to Eglinton. The visitors took first use of the track after winning the toss, but were soon deep in the mire as they slumped to 62 all out.

This Sunday (May 7) at the Rectory, there is a double-header of T20 games in the annual Sam McConnell Charity T20 finals day in memory of the Bready man who did so much sterling work for the Derry Midweek League.

It was a perfect start for Bready and their captain David Scanlon who got the first hat-trick of the season as the Magheramason side claimed a maximum point win at home to Killyclooney.

Aaron Gillespie was in the runs for Strabane at the weekend but they were still heavily beaten by champions Newbuildings.

CricketEurope takes a look at the four leagues below the Premiership. On week one Sam McClintock of Newbuildngs was the first centurion of the North West season, while Raweel Waseem of North Fermanagh claimed a five-wicket haul.

The big guns all fired on the opening day of the North West season, with results in all seven games despite some really nasty showers circling the region.

Bonds Glen and St Johnston may not be the most prominent teams in the North West but they could literally be the centre of attention this year.

Sion are all set for a new season and will have a new skipper at the helm.

A new season and a new format for the North West with 15 sides jostling for position in the Premiership and Championship next year.

Strabane suffered from injury and availability issues last season, and their pre-season has been disrupted by the delayed arrival of their proposed overseas professional.

Newbuildings may have set the standard last year but the defending Premiership champions are going down the youth route this season.

After an all conquering 2021, it was by their high standards a rather disappointing 2022 season for Brigade, but the Beechgrove side will be hopeful of a league challenge this campaign.

The formal unveiling of a scoreboard clock in memory of Roy Torrens took place on Saturday during the interval of the Brigade versus Coleraine match.

It was a historic 2022 for Newbuildings who won the Premiership and the Faughan Valley Cup, and just missed out on a treble after being beaten in the Senior Cup final by Fox Lodge.

It was a historic 2022 season for Fox Lodge who won the NW Senior Cup for the first time in their history. Can they capture more silverware this campaign?

2022 wasn't the best of seasons for Donemana, and the start to 2023 has been a traumatic one for the club with a number of sad bereavements.

Former Irish Under 19 international Kyle Magee has confirmed he is leaving Brigade to join Bready.

The Magheramason side just missed out on back-to-back titles to Newbuildings in 2022, but did collect silverware when they collected the Eric Cooke Cup.

Burndennett will be looking to build on their performances of recent years as the new look North West season gets under way at the end of the month.

There is a new captain at Ballyspallen with James Thompson taking the armband, and he will have Damith Perera back as the overseas professional for the campaign.

Eglinton have performed well in recent years, and will be hoping the return of Mike Erlank plus the arrival of Liam Doherty will be the catalyst for silverware.

There is a new overseas professional at Killyclooney for the 2023 season with the signing of South African Blayde Capell.

Glendermott have been busy over the close season on and off the field carrying out extensive ground renovations.

There are a few new faces at Ardmore, who have Rachit Gaur taking over the captaincy as they look to bounce back after a poor end to the 2022 season.

Brigade have announced the signing of Scott Macbeth from Bready.

After a Championship title in 2022, Bonds Glen will be hoping for a strong showing in the new look Premiership.

There was sad news for the North West cricket fraternity over the weekend with the sudden death of Ash Buchanan.

It's been an up and down few seasons for Coleraine, who are hoping for improved, more consistent displays in 2023.

David Anthony has taken over the reins at The Booathole and he will be able to call on the services of former Irish international Graeme McCarter who has joined from Brigade.

Glendermott have moved quickly to replace their original choice of professional with the signing of South African international Gihahn Cloete.

Donemana have been forced into a change of professional, with their new recruit former Zimbabwean Test cricketer Roy Kaia.

Ballyspallen opening bowler Josh Wilson is leaving the club to move to Brigade.

Eglinton have beaten off the challenge of a host of NW sides to capture the signing of Ireland Under 19 international Liam Doherty.

Robbie Millar's superb season in Australia continued as he helped his team to a cup final win over the weekend.

There was sad news on Thursday with the death of legendary Donemana wicket-keeper Ivor Dougherty.

St Johnston have announced the signing of Graeme McCarter from Brigade.

The Eglinton ground staff and Simon Galloway of Sion Mills were the award recipients from the North West region at the Cricket Ireland awards.

There was sadness among the North West cricket fraternity with the news of the death of Reggie McCarron.

It's been an ongoing battle for the North West umpiring fraternity to try and increase dwindling numbers in recent years. This has led them to propose a bonus points scheme to try and entice clubs into supplying more candidates.

Strabane have signed North County opening bowler Usman Azhar.

The fixtures for the 2023 North West Premiership season have been released with 15 teams set to battle it out.

St Johnston's playing resources have been dealt a blow ahead of the season with four players switching to Ardmore.

Four North West teenagers will be spending the mid-term break in Spain after they were selected for the Dragons Under 18 training camp.

Strabane's Aaron Gillespie was on top form as his blistering half century saw his RR Sedam side beat Mominpura Warriors by 104 runs in their T20 tournament in Hyderabad.

Fox Lodge captain Aaron Heywood is expecting a tough challenge as the Ballymagorry side begin their title defence of the North West Senior Cup with an away day trip to Bonds Glen.

Holders Fox Lodge have been handed a tough draw away at Championship winners Bonds Glen in the opening round of the North West Senior Cup.

Jared Wilson was among the runs to help his side to a convincing win in their latest game in the T20 tournament in Hyderabad.

Ireland Academy all-rounder Cameron Melly could be on the move to Beechgrove for the 2023 season.

Jared Wilson and Aaron Gillespie are set to play in a T20 tournament in India later this month.

By way of tribute to Charlie Kelly who died this week, we reproduce Lawrence Moore's article from a decade ago, which includes the Grace Kelly sandwiches story.

Glendermott have announced two major signings ahead of the 2023 season.