Killyclooney’s superb if somewhat unexpected Championship title challenge continued as they secured an excellent five-wicket victory over bottom side Letterkenny.

The defeat leaves the Donegal club still searching for their first win of the season and facing an increasingly desperate battle to avoid relegation. With only four matches remaining, Letterkenny may now need to win at least three to have any realistic chance of climbing above Burndennett or Ardmore.

Batting first, Letterkenny were dismissed for 181 in 41 overs, despite an aggressive 66 from Ramees Machingal. He struck 10 fours and two sixes from only 47 deliveries, but the innings lost momentum once he was removed by highly rated Ireland Under-15 international Alfie Moan.

Raghuveer Velagapudi provided valuable resistance with 40 from 47 balls, while Pratham Sama added 16, but Keenan Vieira dominated the innings with an outstanding spell of five for 20 from nine overs. His haul included four middle-order wickets as Letterkenny slipped from 83 for three to 102 for seven.

Killyclooney then found themselves under pressure at 82 for five in reply, with Josten Johny claiming three wickets and Pratham Sama taking two.

However, Moan produced a superbly mature match-winning innings. The talented teenager carried his bat for an unbeaten 93 from 133 deliveries, striking six fours and seven sixes as he guided the visitors through the difficult periods.

He received crucial support from his father, Giles Moan, who made an unbeaten 24 from 47 balls. The pair shared an unbroken sixth-wicket partnership of 104 to transform the contest and steer Killyclooney safely home.

They reached their target in the 39th over, with Alfie fittingly striking the winning runs.

The result keeps Killyclooney firmly in the title race and further underlines the growing influence of one of the region’s brightest young prospects.