Lurgan’s Section One title hopes suffered a significant setback as Donacloney Mill secured an impressive 61-run victory on home soil.

Batting first, Donacloney Mill posted a competitive 253 for nine from their 50 overs, built around an excellent 77 from Shane Warren. The opener struck 10 fours and two sixes from 83 deliveries, providing the backbone of the innings after Craig Kennedy had made a useful 24.

Warren added valuable runs with Ryan Matthews and Josh Hall before Neil Kilpatrick maintained the momentum with 46. His innings included four fours and two sixes and helped Donacloney Mill recover from 154 for five.

Lewis Goodbarn contributed 22, while Thomas Stevenson’s unbeaten 21 and Matthew Lyttle’s 17 pushed the total beyond 250.

Ivan Sinovich was the pick of the Lurgan attack with three for 33, while Liam Doddrell took two for 37.

Lurgan made a promising start to their reply as Jack Harrison and Jaydee Oliver shared an opening stand of 75. Oliver struck three fours and two sixes in his 33, while Harrison made 29.

Doddrell then hit a rapid 23 from 15 balls, including two fours and two sixes, but his dismissal triggered a damaging collapse. Lurgan slipped from 95 for one to 130 for seven as Donacloney Mill seized control.

Alex Ogle was the chief destroyer, removing Harrison, Stephen Chambers, John Guy and Garry McClune to finish with excellent figures of four for 29.

Lyttle provided strong support with three for 37, accounting for Doddrell, Jack Maxwell and Sinovich.

Morne Strydom offered late resistance with an unbeaten 28, while Guy made 26, but Lurgan were dismissed for 192 in 40.3 overs.

The defeat leaves Lurgan with ground to recover in the title race, while Donacloney Mill celebrated one of their strongest performances of the campaign.