# Newbuildings Conquer Beechgrove in Front of Four Thousand as Waringstown and Lisburn Set Up NCU Showdown

**By Arjun Mehta**  \nPublished August 2, 2026  \nUpdated September 9, 2026

> Gareth McKeegan’s Newbuildings side made it third time lucky to claim a historic Sports Hub Senior Cup victory over Donemana at Beechgrove, while the Northern Cricket Union title race intensifies between Waringstown and Lisburn.

The party was still in full swing on Sunday night, more than 24 hours after Gareth McKeegan’s men made it third time lucky in the Sports Hub Senior Cup final. Playing in front of one of the largest crowds in the history of a domestic game—with over 4,000 supporters turning out across the two days at Beechgrove—Newbuildings delivered a resilient performance to defeat Donemana by five wickets.

Friday’s persistent rain restricted play to a single innings on Day 1, during which Donemana recovered from 96-5 to post 173. Levi Dougherty led the recovery with an impressive 50 in the middle order, aided by Raymond Curry (39) and Rumesh Buddhika (22). Gregory McFaul starred with the new ball, claiming 4-32, while Ryan Hunter took 3-26 and Trent McKeegan added 2-28.

When battle resumed on Saturday morning, Newbuildings faced early turbulence in reply. Overseas player Samarth Seth anchored the innings with a controlled 58 featuring eight fours, but wickets tumbled around him. With the batting side in trouble at 158-8, former Donemana player Johnny Thompson arrived at the crease to strike four fours and three sixes in an even-time 48. That late salvo pushed Newbuildings to 191 all out, securing an 18-run first-innings lead.

The match format shifted following the earlier weather interruptions, with each side facing a maximum of 34 overs in the second half under blue skies. Donemana wiped out the deficit but stuttered as skipper William McClintock fell for 15 and the middle order collapsed. Thompson backed up his batting heroics with 3-21, supported by Trent McKeegan (2-29) and McFaul (2-35). Late resistance from David O’Sullivan (26) and William McBrine (18) set Newbuildings a target of 109.

Nerves frayed again in the chase as O’Sullivan, Gary Neely, Gary McClintock, and Dean Mehaffey reduced Newbuildings to 64-5. But Seth rose to the occasion once more, finishing 46 not out alongside Thompson (13 not out) to seal the historic trophy lift. Chairman Brian Dougherty and President Connie McAllister managed the ecstatic crowd before presenting the silverware to a relieved captain McKeegan, while Johnny Thompson collected the Player of the Match award.

While celebrations echoed across the north west, the Northern Cricket Union (NCU) Premier League title race intensified further south and east. Waringstown underlined their championship credentials with a resounding 170-run victory over Lisburn at The Lawn, propelled by brilliant unbroken centuries from Graham Hume and Morgan Topping.

Seeking a record-extending top-flight crown, Greg Thompson’s side moved four points clear at the summit. Lisburn initially made inroads through Jon Hinrichsen, but Hume (126 not out off 75 balls, hitting nine sixes and eight fours) and Topping (102 not out) put on an unbroken stand of 215 to lift Waringstown to an imposing 354-3. In reply, Lisburn crumbled to 44-4 against Steve Stolk (2-39) and Tom Mayes (3-27), with Nigel Jones's 77 providing the sole substantial resistance as captain Greg Thompson claimed 3-46 to top the league wicket-taking charts with 16 scalps.

Defending champions Instonians remain firmly in the chasing pack four points adrift after edging CI by nine runs, despite Carson McCullough's 4-12 for the hosts. Shane Dadswell claimed 3-11 as CI stumbled to 20-3, and though Jacob Mulder threatened an upset with 34, Ben Rose and Andrew White closed out the narrow win. Muckamore also kept pace by defeating Woodvale by seven wickets, anchored by Neil Brand's 3-25 and a 70-run partnership between Sam Gordon and Marko Bates.

## Sources

- [northerncricketunion.org](https://northerncricketunion.org/ncu-premier-league-2026/) — original
- [derryjournal.com](https://www.derryjournal.com/sport/cricket/newbuildings-claim-historic-senior-cup-win-in-front-of-over-4000-4720115) — original
- [newsletter.co.uk](https://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/cricket/graham-hume-and-morgan-topping-centuries-help-waringstown-continue-charge-8752631) — original
- [belfasttelegraph.co.uk](https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/newbuildings-complete-job-to-clinch-north-west-senior-cup-as-lisburn-and-waringstown-set-up-a-thrilling-ncu-title-climax/a/159499335.html) — original