There will not only be a new name on the National Cup next month, but also a first winner from either the Munster or Connacht regions following contrasting semi-final triumphs for Counties Galway and Kerry in the last four contests.

It's a remarkable achievement for both sides to make it to the final of a tournament which has been dominated by Leinster and the NCU since it's inception by Joe Doherty's Cricket Committee back in 2012.

County Kerry made it a cup final appearance double for the Kingdom after their triumph over Tyrone in the All-Ireland GAA last four on Saturday was folowed by a nine-run win over Carrickfergus at Middle Road.

Khurram Iqbal clubbed ten fours and two maximums in a hard-hit 80 that got Kerry up to 223, with runs too for Alam Morshed (36) and Yaqoob Ali (23), while there were two wickets apiece for Robin Arbuthnot and Alex Haggan.

The hosts were without influential skipper CJ van der Walt, and the absence of his consistent runs in the middle-order was to be a crucial factor in their loss.

Much depended on overseas professional Atish Varape, and the joy that greeted his dismissal for 35 by the Munster side, meant they knew its significance too.

Iain Parkhill top-scored with 43, while there runs down the order too from Alex Haggan (24) and Jay Parkhill (23), but the required rate had climbed to double digits, meaning their target was always just out of reach. 

They did fight all the way, but in the end lost by nine runs, finishing on 214 for nine, woth Kashif Mehmood and Alam Morshed each taking three wickets.

Kerry will meet County Galway in the final after the Connacht side thumped Terenure by a whopping 208 runs at The Lydican.

Galway's batters made hay while the sun shone as they dismantled the Terenure bowling unit.

Shariq Nasim, Sai Swaroop Burra, and Sunny Singh all made half centuries in a whopping 317 for four.

Terenure's frazzled players were spent, and they soon slumped to 45 for 7 in the reply - four wickets for Iliff Sumit and three for Jayesh Juneja.

They did battle on ti finish on 108, but it was of little comfort.

As it stands, Galway and Kerry are due to travel to Bready on Augist 17th, but representations are believed to be underway for a change of venue given the finalists.