It's honours even as Donemana finished the day 74 runs ahead of Newbuildings with three wickets down in their second innings and 35 overs to go.

Having been put in, Gary McClintock survived a drop in the first over of the day, and the Donemana skipper would go on to make his counterpart Ross Hunter pay, making 102 (9 fours, 1 six).

He shared an opening stand of 88 with Jamie Huey, who played very fluently in an excellent 49 (9 fours) before the stand was broken by Peat Salmon.

The West Indian also accounted for Raymond Curry (9) before Anuj Jotin joined McClintock and the pair set about laying a formidable platform.

Jotin made a better than even time 32 in a third wicket stand of 74 in 14 overs and at 184 for 2 in the 36th over, it looked as if the Tyrone side would be getting at least 280 if not 300.

Ross Dougherty got rid of Jotin, and when Jason Dunn had Andy McBrine caught for 0, the mood had changed.

Salmon returned to claim a four-wicket haul and a total of 250 was certainly within Newbuildings sights.

Jason Dunn (50) and Ross Doughery (36) added 75 for the second wicket to take their side to 101 for 1, which left the stage perfectly for Peat Salmon.

He entertained the large crowd with a hard-hit 55 from 40 balls that included five sixes and three fours. Just as he looked as if he was going to take Newbuildings to a first innings lead at 170 for 3 in the 37th, much like the first innings things changed quickly.

McBrine had Salmon well caught by Dwayne McGerrigle at first slip and the wild celebrations by Donemana meant they knew just how crucial that scalp was.

Jotin (3-34), Dave O'Sullivan (2-40) and Gary McClintock (2-58) all combined to bowl Newbuildings out for 224.

The final this year is being played to light once again which unfortunately for Donemana meant they had to bat again in the late evening and in that scenario all you tend to do is lose wickets, and that's exactly what panned out.

Huey, first innings centurion McClintock and Curry all fell in the 15 overs as they ended on 48 for 3 - a lead of 74.

With Jotin and McBrine in the middle, the first hour on Saturday is going to be pivotal.

You get a feeling though between these two evenly matched sides that this one has the potential to go all the way.

Play resumes on Saturday at 11am.