Donemana, the holders, and Limavady, last year's defeated finalists, were both dramatically knocked out of the Irish Senior Cup - sponsored by Royal Liver - in Saturday's first round of matches, and by southern opposition, what's more. At The Holm, YMCA won their away match against Donemana by 26 runs, while Clontarf had 23.3 overs to spare in their 83run victory over Limavady.

Clontarf's total of 179 for 9 looked meagre enough, and would have been much worse were it not for the over-generous 53 extras, including an astonishing total of 43 wides, donated to them by the Limavady attack. However, by the ninth over, Clontarf were reeling on 22 for 3 wickets until Ronan O'Reilly and Andy Cullen stopped the rot by putting on 66 for the fourth wicket, before Cullen departed, caught and bowled by Decker Curry

Thereafter, Clontarf slid to 118 for 7, before a 51-run stand by Greg Molins and Angus Hancock raised hopes. These hopes began to recede as Curry and Garreth Harron had put on 44 without loss by the 12th over in reply.

Enter Mark Jones. The young Australian seamer was Clontarf's first bowling change, and enjoyed instant success as he clean-bowled Harron in his first over.

Still, the free-scoring Curry reached 49 when he drove Jones for a four past mid-on. Jones immediately hit back as Curry edged the next ball and wicketkeeper Hancock brought off a superb diving catch, leaving Limavady on 65 for 2.

Thereafter, there was no resistance worthy of the name, and only Andy Christie reached double figures. Jones ended with a magnificent analysis of 6 for 13. Greg Molins bowled very well to take 3 for 37.

At The Holm, Angus Dunlop's 119 (12 fours and seven sixes) and John Hoey's 79 (eight fours and four sixes) helped steer YMCA to that notable victory over Donemana. And their seamer, Marvin Van Niekierk had the additional personal satisfaction of getting a hat-trick.