Last weekend Donemana may have clinched the North West League but in the NCU Carrickfergus were the other big winners. The three matches scheduled over the weekend were all important at each end of the table. The North Down defeat on Saturday had no impact on Carrickfergus but the Friday and Sunday fixtures with Derriaghy and CIYMS respectively were massive games for the Middle Road club. Defeat in both would have left them staring Section 2 cricket in the face. They still had points in the bag so one victory would have been enough, as long as the victory was against Derriaghy. Defeat on the Friday would have left Carrick in ‘squeaky bum' territory as Alex Ferguson would say.

However they got the job done with a comfortable 92 run victory. On Sunday they travelled to Belmont to take on CIYMS. CIYMS won the toss and inserted Carrickfergus on a difficult pitch. None of the top order batsmen looked settled and runs were difficult to come by, but Carrick showed that they have gained a lot of experience in their time in the Premier League. They didn't panic or give away their wickets and built solid partnerships.

When you stop the opposition getting wickets in clusters of 2s and 3s, it stops them building any momentum. In 50 overs Ryan Eagleson top scored with 25 not out to show you that it was attritional stuff. In these circumstances it is a case of what we have we hold. For CIYMS Derek Heasley was the pick of the attack with 3 for 25 in his 10. Despite a reasonable start CIYMS didn't learn from Carrick. No-one was able to stay with Derek Heasley and the wickets fell at regular intervals. Chasing 140 doesn't sound hard but on a difficult pitch under the threat of relegation it is a long way away at 50 for 5. However another experienced campaigner came to the crease in the shape of Paul McCrum and they put together the biggest partnership of the match. Whatever you do don't let the opposition take a couple of quick wickets as the pressure becomes unbearable. 110 for 5 became 110 for 7 and then 124 for 7 became 124 all out. Heasley was the best batsman on show with 64 not out but he must have looked on in total disbelief as the wickets tumbled around him.

These young fellows playing today have tremendous eye/hand coordination and many have the ability to pick a ball up from outside off and club it over mid wicket for 6. There is a greater innovation on shot selection and the ability to improvise with reverse sweeps and switch hitting is exciting to watch. The running between the wickets is better and they can hurry and harass fielders into mistakes. Bowlers have a variety of slower balls, yorkers and bouncers. They even have slower ball yorkers and bouncers. But sometimes when you get a poor slow soft wicket you need the ability just to put it on the spot and let the pitch do the work. When you are batting on such a track you need a sound technique and to value your wicket. Clearly it was the experienced pair of Ryan Eagleson and Derek Heasley who showed these young guys that technique is still important. It is no surprise they were the best bowlers in each team, the best batsmen in each team and the only two who were unbeaten. Carrickfergus can now thoroughly enjoy their last two games.

For CIYMS it was a disappointing weekend. Their defeat to Cliftonville could yet be costly. They did the hard part a few weeks ago chasing down a big total at Queensway to beat relegation rival number 1 Derriaghy. Victory on Saturday against relegation rival number 2 Cliftonville would have left them safe if not mathematically. The run rate margin between CIYMS and Derriaghy is as paper thin as a Rizzla.

Cliftonville with an awful run rate were all but gone. A really nervy performance by CIYMS has thrown the NCU nomads a welcome but very unexpected lifeline. Cliftonville pushed North Down on Saturday and I suspect they really needed to win it to stay up. They will however go into their last game with a chance and they will take that right now. The game on Sunday is massive, or rather could be.

CIYMS have games in hand and play Waringstown and North Down on Friday and Saturday. In usual circumstances defeat would be as certain as a one legged duck swimming in a circle. But strange results happen in September and the scheduling of Waringstown, with nothing to play for, in two late Friday fixtures (this week and next) is a stroke of genius. If CIYMS can get something from the last 4 games they will stay up. From somewhere, somehow CIYMS need a result.

When Derriaghy play Cliftonville on Sunday the loser is relegated. The winner could well survive. For Derriaghy and CIYMS their Premier League survival hangs in the balance. For Cliftonville the whole clubs survival could well hang in the balance. Who said it is tough at the top? It's a hell of a lot tougher at the bottom.