But given a choice, it was the cup final Raymond Moan’s team would have preferred to win, although that opportunity was denied them right from the match started. Ardmore batted first, and immediately set a scoring rate of 5 runs an over - a momentum they kept up throughout the 50 overs of their innings. Professional Iftikat Hussain was one of the key players in the Ardmore line up and he played extremely well in making 85 and setting up an impressive opening stand of 73 with Charlie Elder. Irish international Mark Gillespie then weighed in with another excellent half century before the second wicket fell at 169. By this stage Ardmore had a firm grip on the game, but to North Fermanagh’s credit they kept their heads up, kept up their effort and eventually took 8 wickets as the final tally reached 263, when at one time it looked like being over 300. Darren Moan was the most successful of the Fermanagh bowlers with 4 for 44 off 6 overs.

    Nevertheless, the task was now a very difficult one, and much depended on N. Fermanagh’s overseas player Jaideep Narse. But as is often the case when the odds are against luck doesn’t come your way either. In this case Narse was the victim of what many thought was a dubious decision to be out caught by the wicketkeeper for 14.

    The Ardmore team’s reaction showed how vital they felt it was to get Narse out early, and from there on they really controlled the game.

    They bowled and fielded well, and the later Fermanagh batsmen did well to take their total to 177 for 8 wickets at the end of their 50 overs. Andy Burman batted extremely well for his unbeaten 39 and Darren Moan’s 25 looked threatening until a splendid Gillespie catch stopped his progress.

    The winning margin at the end was 86 runs, and the Derry side were deserving winners on the day.

    The North-West Union vice-chairman, Bob Kerr, presided at the presentation ceremony, and in complimenting both teams, he also paid tribute to the Eglinton club and to the Jeffrey family for the organising and hosting of what has become an important and established North-West competition.

    Sammy Jeffrey’s son Alan presented the awards, and responding on behalf of the family, recalled his late father’s love of the game, and the spirit in which he played it and viewed it. Eglinton’s head groundsman Terry Campbell, who has done so much to establish Eglinton’s pitches as among the best in Ireland, adjudicated the man of the match award and he had no hesitation in nominating Ardmore’s Hussain as the recipient. It was the icing on the cake for the winners and a decision with which no one on the ground could disagree.

     SAMUEL JEFFREY CUP FINAL Ardmore v N. Fermanagh Ardmore I. Hussain lbw J. Narse 85 C Elder run out 32 M. Gillespie ct. G. Moan b. D. Moan 55 K. Martin ct. J. Maguire b. A. Burman 13 C. Curley ct. G. McFarland b. D. Moan 23 P. Brolly ct. D. Moan b. A. Burman 12 G. Brolly ct. I. Wilson b. D. Moan 4 G. Porter ct. C. Wilson b. D. Moan 8 D. McAllister not out 8 G. Gillen not out 3 Extras 20 Total 263 for 8 N. Fermanagh

    R. Moan bowled C. Elder 12 J. Narse ct. G. Gillen b. G. Brolly 14 L. Semple lbw C. Elder 14 C. Wilson bowled C. Curley 4 G. Moan c + b I. Hussain 9 D. Moan ct. M. Gillespie b. D. McCourt 25 G. McFarland run out 17 A. Burman not out 39 P. Keogh bowled D. McCourt 2 I. Wilson not out 2 J. Maguire Extras 40 Total 177 for 8