Loughlin leads Bready to League Two Cup glory

BREADY Thirds brought the curtain down on the North West season in style as they upset favourites Sion Mills by eight wickets to lift the League Two Cup at Magheramason.

Sion had beaten Bready convincingly twice during the league campaign and arrived expected to complete a trophy double, but one-off finals rarely follow the script.

Bready made full use of the early damp conditions after winning the crucial opening exchanges, dismissing Sion Mills for just 93 in 34.4 overs before Man of the Match Sam Loughlin struck a half-century to make light work of the chase. 

Sion were in immediate trouble as Dylan McCorkell removed Darren Moan and Russell Barnard in successive deliveries, before Jamie Mutch accounted for captain Simon Galloway.

At 30 for four, the favourites were in serious difficulty, although Sean McAnenny and Glenn McCallan staged a recovery with a fifth-wicket stand of 56.

McAnenny top-scored with 38 and McCallan made 23, but once the partnership was broken the innings collapsed dramatically. Sion lost their final six wickets for just seven runs, with Adam Mutch taking three for 25, McCorkell two for 11 and the Bready attack keeping the pressure firmly on. 

Any hopes Sion had of producing a fightback with the ball were quickly diminished by Loughlin and Craig Allen. The pair added 61 for the first wicket, Allen making 18 before falling to Mark Patterson, while Loughlin ensured there would be no late drama.

He struck five fours and a six in a composed 54 from 77 balls, taking Bready to the brink before being dismissed with only two runs required. Marc Fleming** and Dylan McCorkell completed the formalities as Bready completed a fine all-round display.

It was a deserved triumph for Bready and a frustrating finale for Sion Mills, whose excellent league form counted for little on the day that mattered. The League Two Cup was presented to the winners by North West Chairman Raymond Mitchell, bringing the curtain down on another busy North West campaign.