Favourites avoid shocks as 2016 Bank of Ireland Senior Cup gets under way

Most of the favourites progressed to the quarter-finals without much fuss.

At the Holm Donemana put their five-year unbeaten run in the competition on the line and emerged with a convincing win over Ardmore.

Ricky-Lee Dougherty had won the toss and opted to bat first and there were few anxious moments for the Tyrone men as they romped to a 176-run victory.

Meanwhile, last season’s runners-up Eglinton got a slight scare from Killyclooney before booking their place in the last eight with a 63-run win over the Championship team.

Brigade and Glendermott have served up some massive ties through the years, but this unfortunately wasn’t to be one of them.

A commanding display by the home team’s top order was to put the tie out of Glendermott’s reach early on and there was only ever going to be one winner after that.

A superb century from David Barr who hit 11 fours and a six in his 116 set the standard for the day, with Brigade claiming a 175-run win.

The game between Bready and Fox Lodge was many people’s idea of a genuine banana skin and the margin of victory suggested there was little between them.

The Ballymagorry men’s skipper Brian Allen led from the front as the visitors posted a competitive 231 which was enough to earn a two-wicket victory.

Meanwhile, Drummond steered clear of a potentially tricky assignment as they beat Bonds Glen by six wickets.

In-form skipper Graham Boyd made an entertaining 50 for the home side here (4 fours, 3 sixes) with Jonny Haslett (39) and Roy Robinson (20) also chipping in.

The spin of Steve Moore (4-24) proved too much for the Glen’s lower order however as they caved from 163 for 4 to 178 all out on a day when collapses seemed to be in vogue.

Peat Salmon was the difference between Newbuildings and Ballyspallen in the all-Championship tie as the Jamaican made a superb 153 at Foyle College Grounds – Newbuildings winning by 206 runs.

Elsewhere, Coleraine hammered St Johnston by 10 wickets and Strabane easily accounted for Burndennett – Peter Gillespie with an unbeaten half century.