COOKE SPOILS NORTH FERMANAGH PARTY

Aaron Cooke produced the innings of his young career to spoil North Fermanagh’s promotion party and keep Bready Seconds firmly in the League One title race with a thrilling three-wicket victory.

The teenager struck a magnificent maiden senior century, smashing 105 from just 62 deliveries as Bready chased down North Fermanagh’s 224 with four balls to spare.

The result lifted Bready to the top of the table and means the championship will now be decided this weekend. North Fermanagh still have their destiny in their own hands, with victory away to Drummond enough to secure the title and promotion to the senior ranks.

For long periods, however, they appeared set to take a major step towards the crown after posting 224 in 31 overs. Christopher Faris made 37, David Smith 28 and Badar Mahmood 24 before Matthew Morrison provided the late acceleration, hammering 50 from just 28 balls with two fours and four sixes. Tyler Faulkner claimed three wickets in his solitary over, while Cooke and Dale McGonigle took two apiece.

Bready’s chase was in serious trouble at 51 for four after Jordan McCorkell, Adam Warnock, Ron Killen and Mervyn Magee had all departed. That brought Cooke together with Dylan McCorkell and transformed the contest. Cooke launched a spectacular counter-attack, striking nine fours and nine sixes in his 105, while McCorkell played the ideal supporting role.

Their fifth-wicket partnership was worth 147 and took Bready from the brink of defeat to 198 before Cooke finally fell. McCorkell went on to make 46, with McGonigle helping finish the chase as Bready got over the finishing line to give themselves a shot at the crown.

“I’m not known for my batting, but it just came together when it was badly needed,” said Cooke of his first senior hundred. “A lot of the credit goes to Dylan McCorkell, who kept me calm at the other end, and also Adam Warnock and Jordy McCorkell, who encouraged me to keep going.

“It was our last chance to go top and we managed to do that as a team. Now it all comes down to Saturday between Drummond and North Fermanagh to see if we’ve done enough to bring the league back to Bready.”

For North Fermanagh, the disappointment is considerable but the equation remains simple — win at Drummond and the championship, together with promotion, will still be theirs.

For the moment though, Aaron Cooke can bask in the limelight after a special innings that will live long in the memory for all those that were fortunate to witness it, including his very proud mother Kate who was scoring the book for the Magheramason side.