Ballyspallen hit top form ahead of National Cup showdown

Ballyspallen stayed firmly in the Championship promotion race and warmed up for next week’s National Cup final in emphatic fashion with a crushing 148-run victory over Killyclooney.

Second behind leaders Glendermott, Ballyspallen appear to be finding their best form at precisely the right time ahead of their showpiece meeting with the Rectory side.

They posted an imposing 271 for seven from 49 overs, with Raveen Yasas producing the outstanding innings of the day.

Yasas hammered 87 from only 64 balls, striking 11 fours and three sixes, after Hassan Shahid had provided a solid platform with 36.

Graham Kennedy contributed 28, while Curtis McElwee injected late momentum with three sixes in a rapid 22. Cody Mehaffey and Timothy Dougherty claimed two wickets apiece for Killyclooney.

The Tyrone side’s hopes of maintaining their own promotion challenge were then comprehensively dismantled.

Keenan Vieira made 21 and Alfie Alexander Moan 20, but the chase never gathered sufficient momentum before the Kennedy combination took control.

Graham Kennedy produced an outstanding spell, taking four for just 21 from 10 overs, including four maidens, while Stephen Kennedy also collected four wickets as Killyclooney collapsed.

From 83 for three they lost seven wickets for only 40 runs and were dismissed for 123.

The comprehensive nature of the victory keeps Ballyspallen breathing down Glendermott’s neck at the top, while almost certainly sounding the death knell for Killyclooney’s promotion aspirations.