Lisburn Seconds displayed their all-round ability to defeat CI by 47 runs and lift the NCU Junior Cup at Sandy Bay, Larne.

Their victory was built around an excellent top score of 72 from captain Mike McComish and then secured by Richard Simpson, whose four-wicket spell dismantled CI’s middle order in the chase.

Asked to defend 236, Lisburn never allowed their opponents to establish any sort of a foothold in the cup final. CI were eventually dismissed for 189, with Paddy Beverland’s determined 66 delaying rather than threatening the outcome - the contest was long over in essence by that stage and the Wallace Park side were already well advanced in their planning for the night's celebrations.

Lisburn’s innings had begun uncertainly. Jonathan Waite and Stuart Lightbody both made eight as the score slipped to 23 for two. Former Irish youth international Adam Berry responded positively with five boundaries in 29, but his dismissal left the eventual winners 69 for three.

The match then began to tilt Lisburn’s way through McComish’s measured approach. His 72 occupied 88 deliveries and contained nine fours, an innings shaped by judgement rather than recklessness. He first added 54 with Glenn Halliday, who contributed a useful 31, before Matthew Gleave helped accelerate the recovery.

Gleave’s 34 was an important supporting hand as the pair carried Lisburn beyond 200. Although Chris Robinson finished with four for 52, Lisburn’s lower order ensured the platform was not wasted. Ian Whitten, Richard Simpson and Ethan Booth added useful late runs, while CI’s 17 wides contributed to an expensive extras total of 27.

A target of 237 was challenging but attainable. CI, however, lost Peter Harold for nought and never recovered from a damaging collapse after reaching 49 for one.

Whitten removed Harold and later claimed Beverland and Ben Snell, but Simpson produced the defining spell. He dismissed Jack Beattie for 26 before removing Jonny Moore, Robinson and captain Adam Maitland, finishing with excellent figures of four for 27 from eight overs.

NCU CEO Callum Atkinson added two wickets during the period in which CI lost six wickets for 31 runs. Beverland remained composed, but the pressure of rebuilding left the required rate climbing steadily.

Callum Soper briefly counter-attacked with a 13-ball 24, while Snell made 35, yet Lisburn’s grip on the trophy was never seriously loosened.

It was a deserved triumph for Lisburn's talented second string - McComish supplied the foundation, Simpson delivered the knockout blows, and Lisburn as a whole simply  handled the demands of the final better.