CRICKET:A FINE, all-round performance from Kevin O'Brien wasn't enough for Railway Union as they came up 51 runs short in the first round of the Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup at Limavady on Saturday.
O'Brien took three wickets, but the home side, buoyed by half-centuries from Decker Curry and professional Agha Sabir, set a tough target of 246 off their 50 overs.
Alongside Conor Mullen, O'Brien had added 64 for the third wicket before Curry bowled Mullen for 19. When Trent Johnston went for two soon after, the 2006 champions were in trouble.
O'Brien knuckled down, putting on 71 for the fifth wicket with international team-mate Thinus Fourie, but Railway were falling behind the asking rate.
When Fourie was run out for 36, their chances were over. O'Brien finally went on 79, caught by Curry off Simon Dunn, who finished with figures of three for 43.
Defending champions North County thrashed Ardmore by 166 runs at Balrothery. A century from Brian Shields and 66 from Ireland international Reinhardt Strydom helped them post 301 for seven off their 50 overs.
Strydom also bagged two wickets as the northwest side were bowled out for 135.
County's scoring exploits were outdone by Fingal rivals Rush, who walloped Lisburn for 387 for seven at Kenure, before going on to win by 221 runs. Fintan McCallister filled his boots, scoring 150 of his side's runs, while Dan van Zyl made 104 before they bowled Lisburn out for 166.
The batting honours in the first round, though, went to Leinster's New Zealand professional Keeley Todd, who hit an unbeaten 173 in his side's 57-run victory over CSNI at Stormont.
Merrion got the better of a low-scoring affair against Glendermott at Anglesea Road, but not before putting their supporters through the ringer. Matt Petrie took five wickets for 15 as Glendermott were bowled out for 76 in 24 overs. Johnny Thompson then went through the Merrion top-order, reducing them to 18 for five, before a vital 23 from Kade Beasley got them over the line with three wickets to spare.
Ireland spinner Gary Kidd took five wickets in Waringstown's seven-wicket victory at Sydney Parade, while Ben Dunk hit an undefeated 48 as YMCA beat Eglinton by seven wickets at Claremont Road.
A 116-run second-wicket stand between Ken McDonald (84) and Dylan Vaughan (72) helped CYM chase down Cliftonville's target of 264 with six balls to spare at Terenure, while Clontarf had over 100 runs to spare over Bangor at Castle Avenue.
Five wickets from Max Sorensen and three from Matt Dwyer helped The Hills bowl out Fox Lodge for 163 at Ballymagorry, with Barry Archer (57) and Patrick Byrne (48 not out) knocking off the runs and ensuring eight Leinster sides will be in the hat for next Friday's second-round draw.
