Brigade retained the Faughan Valley Cup with an ultimately comfortable 42-run win over Ardmore at The Rectory.

The Beechgrove side lost Scott Macbeth and Cameron Melly cheaply, but a third wicket stand of 66 in 33 balls between Marcello Piedt and Iftikhar Hussain got them back on track.

Piedt hit 11 fours in a top score of 47 from just 22 balls, while Hussain's 29-ball 44 included 6 fours and one maximum.

Ardmore fought back well but a 6th wicket stand of 56 between David (30*) and Ryan Barr (25*) got them up to 190 for 5.

The Ardmore reply started briskly with skipper Rachit Gaur thumping 5 fours and 2 sixes in his 19-ball 44, putting on 51 in four overs for the first wicket with Dharm Singh (27).

However, two wickets for Scott Macbeth and four for Man-of-the-Match Ifty Hussain (4-27) ensured Brigade would lift the trophy. 

They will now go on to represent the North West in the All-Ireland T20 competition, and a meeting with former player Ryan Macbeth as they take on NCU champions Lisburn at Wallace Park on Sunday August 11th.

Leinster meet Cork Harlequins in the other semi-final.

FAUGHAN VALLEY CUP FINAL

At The Rectory, Brigade beat Ardmore by 42 runs

Brigade 190/5 (20 overs; Marcello Piedt 47, Ifty Hussain 44, David Barr 30*, Ryan Barr 25*; Dharm Singh 2-32)

Ardmore 148 (17.3 overs; Rachit Gaur 44, Dharm Singh 27, Hayden Melly 21; Ifty Hussain 4-27, Scott Macbeth 2-18)