ANDY Mc Brine’s century and four wickets for Anuj Jotin powered Donemana to a convincing 203-run win over Newbuildings to clinch the North-West Senior Cup for a 24th time in front of a packed crowd at Beechgrove.

The day had started evenly poised with Donemana 48 for three – a lead of 74 – after 15 overs, but any thoughts Newbuildings had of regaining the famous trophy were soon dispelled by a dominant Donemana.

Irish international Andy McBrine has never been on the losing side in a senior final, winning all six he’s played in and after a first innings duck, he was determined to make amends, and boy did he do that in spades.

Firstly, he and Indian professional Anuj Jotin (51) built the perfect platform with a fourth wicket stand of 112 in 24 overs, and that set the stage for the powerful hitters to come.

McBrine then added a further 69 in just 52 balls with William McClintock (33) as 113 came off the last 13 overs. He reached his century from 116 balls (nine fours, two sixes) in an innings that will live long in the memory.

Levi Dougherty (20) thumped two sixes as the Tyrone side finished on 267 for eight, leaving Newbuildings the tall order of 294 to lift the trophy.

Peat Salmon (three for 44) was the pick of the attack – taking his match haul to seven in an impressive two days with the ball for the West Indian professional.

Leeroy McKeegan went quickly to a combination of the McClintock twins in the tricky ten over period before tea. At 30 for one, Newbuildings had started slowly, but any chance they had of victory was quickly blown away by Anuj Jotin after tea.

Firstly, he had Ross Dougherty well caught at slip by Dwayne McGerrigle, then got the prize scalp of Salmon, who hit a return catch to go for nought. Soon after he also accounted for top-scorer Jason Dunn (22) and Gregory McFaul.

It was a fitting way to sign off his season for Donemana – Jotin is returning to Sri Lanka tomorrow – his four wickets for 18 taking his season tally to 39, as well as the small matter of 969 runs!

McBrine dismissed Johnny Thompson, who hit the only six of the innings in his 20, as well as a hobbling Gareth McKeegan.

It was Irish passport holding Australian David O’Sullivan though who would have the final word, getting the last three wickets of Charlie Downey, Jason Bell and Lewis Campbell as Newbuildings were bowled out for 90.

In a three-way battle for the Man-of-the-Match, Donemana captain Gary McClintock pipped McBrine and Jotin for the individual accolade, thanks to his first innings century. McClintock paid an emotional tribute to ‘absent friends’ in his acceptance speech, an acknowledgement of the recent death of Donemana legend Roy McBrine.

The teams are also embroiled in a three-way battle for the Premiership title along with Brigade, so there’s still plenty to play for in the final weeks of what has been a fascinating season.