POLLOCK MAKING HIS MARK AT BURNDENNETT

It’s been a very productive few years for Burndennett all-rounder Mark Pollock, who picked up the Michael Bannigan Player of the Year Award last season, and continues to impress for the Tyrone club. He took five wickets and top-scored with 87, but unfortunately ended up on the losing side against Fox Lodge.

“Saturday’s game was, as always, an entertaining one against the Foxes.” Said Pollock. We were disappointed afterwards getting that close but they bowled tight when they needed to, and there were a few aspects of our game that we could have improved.

“It feels good getting some runs again. I've been getting starts recently but not making them into scores, but being patient, training hard and waiting to take the chance is the plan. Just a pity I couldn't have stayed a few overs longer on Saturday to see if I could have changed the game.”

Pollock’s 2023 haul of 732 runs and 32 wickets was among the best in the region, and his five wickets at the weekend gave him great personal satisfaction. “I was delighted with the ‘5-fer’ and I didn't know at the time it was five so that made it even better. But it's always nice to get a team victory alongside personal success but wasn't to be this time.

We have been training well together as a group and fancy our chances against anyone. This league is very competitive as we have seen from the results. Cricket is a funny game - all it takes is one ball, so you never know what could happen.”

Burndennett take on St Johnston over the next two weeks starting with a league clash, followed by a Sammy Jeffrey semi-final the following weekend. It will be tough against the Championship leaders, but if Pollock continues to fire they might just cause the Donegal side some problems.