CRICKET: An impressive partnership of 197 runs between Peter Gillespie and Bobby Rao broke the hearts of Clontarf in the semi-final of the Royal Liver Irish Senior Cup on Saturday as Strabane recovered from an early scare to win by eight wickets.

Batting first, Clontarf posted a reasonable total of 215 thanks chiefly to another big innings from their Scottish international Dominic Rigby (91 not out). It looked like it might be enough when, after six overs, Strabane stumbled to 22 for two with Michael Gillespie and Terry Patton jnr back in the pavilion.

Sometimes, games can hinge on one crucial incident and when Michael Gillespie was dropped in the slips on four, the Tarf players feared their chance had come and gone. Peter Gillespie was joined at the crease by Rao and they let their experience come to the fore. Rao celebrated his 50th birthday earlier in the week but the former Indian Test player refused to let the years catch up with him as he batted for 40 overs, remaining unbeaten at the end on 61.

Gillespie was more aggressive and by the end of the match was nearly double Rao's score, on 118 not out.

Strabane will play Limavady in the all-Northwest final on August 20th after they overcame Brigade at Beechgrove.

Elsewhere, a wonderful innings of 191 from Andre Botha kept North County unbeaten at the top of Section A of the WMK League with a 199-run win over Malahide at Inch on Saturday. Yesterday, they beat Railway Union at the same venue.

Jason Molins was in the runs for his club, Phoenix, as he hit 119 not out in their comfortable victory over Munster Reds at the Park on Saturday, but barring a disaster, County already have Section A in the bag.

Section B is a lot closer, however, with no side able to pull ahead at the top. Leaders Rush lost to the ascendant CYM on Saturday while Old Belvedere's poor form continued with defeat to Pembroke at Sydney Parade. YMCA are now just seven points behind Rush, having beaten Merrion in Anglesea Road yesterday.