Ardmore fell at the final hurdle as they lost the play-off to St Johnston to be relegated into the Championship next season.
It was always going to be a struggle for the Bleachgreen side who lost Dharm Singh on the eve of the campaign and former skipper Rachit Gaur made only one appearance all season.
That left a huge gap in the side and they knew they were always going to be in a relegation dogfight from the off.
They almost managed to stay up thanks primarily to the efforts of overseas professional Junaid Ali and skipper Harry Zimmermann, but couldn't replicate their play-off win of 2024 against St Johnston.
Ali was the top-scorer in the Premiership, and in all competitions made 812 runs at 38.67, which included five fifties and two hundreds.
Zimmermann scored 772 runs at 42.89 - six half centuries and one hundred - while Muhammad Edrees had a decent all-round season as he thumped 508 runs at 24.13 (3 fifties).
There was a huge gap then to Bobby Brolly (245 runs at 11.67) and Vivek Dwivedi (206 at 12.18) and you don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to see why they struggled given the severe lack of depth and quality in the batting.
The bowling was better - steady though rather than spectacular.
Zimmermann led the way with 26 wickets at 28.35, one ahead of Edrees who claimed 25 wickets at 22.68.
Junaid Ali was the third to pass the 20-wicket mark as he took 20 at 31.30, while Conor Brolly's 18 wickets at 29.55 included a five-wicket haul.
Vivek Dwivedi's 17 wickets cost 22.53 apiece, while teenager Bobby Brolly was the only other to pass double figures as he claimed 16 wickets at 31.37.
The loss of harry Zimmermann to the NCU region will be a blow as Ardmore look to bounce back, but they will certainly be in the promotion frame next season as they regroup.
ARDMORE BATTING
- Junaid Ali 812 runs at 38.67 (5 fifties, 2 hundreds)
- Harry Zimmermann 772 runs at 42.89 (6 fifties, 1 hundred)
- Muhammad Edrees 508 runs at 24.19 (3 fifties)
- Bobby Brolly 245 runs at 11.67 (1 fifty)
- Vivek Dwivedi 206 runs at 12.18
ARDMORE BOWLING
- Harry Zimmermann 26 wickets at 28.35
- Muhammad Edrees 25 wickets at 22.68
- Junaid Ali 20 wickets at 31.30
- Conor Brolly 18 wickets at 29.55
- Vivek Dwivedi 17 wickets at 22.53
- Bobby Brolly 16 wickets at 31.37
