St Johnston produced a fine all-round display to beat Ardmore by 65 runs and claim a place in the 2026 NW Premiership.

The victory was fully deserved with the Donegal side in control for most of the contest at Burndennett.

A damp wicket meant a reduced overs contest of 35 overs, and batting first St Johnston never looked back after an opening stand of 78 in 12 overs between Jack Macbeth (46) and Graeme McCarter.

The dismissal of Macbeth to Bobby Brolly (2-38) was the cue for McCarter to accelerate and the former Irish international cleared the wall 9 times on his way to a top score of 79 from 54 balls.

Vivek Dwivedi (3-36) threatened to  bring Ardmore back into contention, but skipper David Anthony hit 5 fours and a six in a 28-ball unbeaten 42, adding 46 for the 7th wicket with Nathan Cole (23*) to take his side to a formidable 240 for 6 - 17 sixes and fours in that total.

Nathan Cole (4-51) then struck three early blows in the powerplay to leave Ardmore reeling on 34 for 3. However, Muhammad Edrees then counterattacked, and for the first time the Bleachgreen side had a foothold in the contest.

Edrees hit 10 sixes and 4 fours in a 54-ball 86, sharing a fourth wicket stand of 77 in nine overs with Aneesh Anilkumar.

At 111 for 3 in 14 overs, the match was finally balanced, but the wicket of Edrees opened the floodgates on what has been a fragile batting line-up all season.

Two wickets each for Michael Rankin and David Anthony saw Ardmore slip to 147 for 9, and despite some late, lusty blows from Aneesh (56), Ardmore were bowled out for 175.

The scorecard had a binary look to it with seven players scoring 0 or 1, and without their overseas professional Ardmore were always going to be susceptible to batting woes.

For St Johnston, it's revenge for their loss in last year's play-off, and they can enjoy the close season but know they will have to strengthen if they don't want an immediate return.

Ardmore have bounced between the divisions over the past 20 years, and it mightn't be the worst outcome in the world that they will be in the Championship in 2026, allowing them to regroup and regain some confidence in their playing group.

NW PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF RESULT

At Burndennett, St Johnston beat Ardmore by 65 runs

St Johnston 240-6 (35 overs; G McCarter 79, J Macbeth 46, D Anthony 42, N Cole 23; V Dwivedi 3-36, B Brolly 2-38)

Ardmore 175 (23.2 overs; Muhammad Edrees 86, A Anilkumar 56*; N Cole 4-51, D Anthony 2-16, M Rankin 2-30)