St Johnston delivered what could be a fatal blow to Brigade's title hopes as they won a feisty showdown at The Boathole by two runs in another thriller.

The Donegal side had come out the wrong side of a last wicket stand by Eglinton on Saturday and perhaps there were signs of a hangover from that reversal as they slumped to 42 for 5 batting first.

However, they dug deep and rallied with David Lapsley and David Anthony adding 69 in 10 overs for the 6th wicket.

Skipper Anthony's counter-attacking 45 from 32 balls included 5 sixes and 2 fours.

Still, Brigade would have been happy at 123 for 7.

Lapsley though marshalled the tail well as his unbeaten 79 (10 fours, 2 sixes) took the Saints to 188 for 8.

Their cause was helped by the concession of 33 extras - far too many for a side with title ambitions.

The chase got bogged down as St Johnston chipped away at the top-order. When Cameron Melly went, they were 91 for 5 and staring down the barrel with 98 needed off 11 overs.

Former player Ryan Macbeth hit 3 sixes and 3 fours in his 41 as he and Andy Britton put on 67.

The skipper's 48 from 30 balls (1 four, 5 sixes) reduced the equation to four needed from the last over.

Britton took a single from the first ball bowled by Nathan Cole, who then dismissed Haydn Melly after the keeper hadn't pierced the infield with the second and third deliveries.

Britton was then run out as he tried to get on strike, and Cole completed a famous win by bowling Nick Gray from the last ball of a pulsating match that will live long in the memory at St Johnston...and Ardmore if they can complete a first Premiership title next weekend.

Fox Lodge kept alive their Premiership hopes with a 9-run win over their main challengers for the 'golden ticket' to top flight cricket in 2024, Coleraine.

Travis Nicholl got the home side to the proverbial flyer as he hit 4 fours and 6 sixes in a whirlwind 56 from just 27 balls, as he and Gayan Maneeshan (38) shared an opening stand of 87 in 8 overs.

Brian Allen (42) and Craig Doherty (24) chipped in to get the Ballymagorry side up to 235 for 9.

Coleraine started the chase well as Marcus Poskitt continued to show his recent good form that will/should see him playing representative cricket.

The left-hander shared stands of 47, 49 and 46 with Matty Smyth (20), Scott Campbell (27), and Ravi Karunaratne (16) to get the Bannsiders to 142 for 2.

Jason Milligan (3-33) though opened the door by dismissing the Sri Lankan, and two more quickly followed. Matthew Hutchinson drove a return catch to Milligan and Rory Knox picked out Dean McCarter at deep square off Johnny Robinson.

A 6th wicket stand of 56 in 5 overs between Poskitt and Stephen Hutchinson - who hit 3 sixes in an entertaining 26 - looked to have won it for the visitors before the game took another twist.

With 27 needed off six overs, Hutchinson took a charge and was stumped. Patrick Carson and Gareth Burns went cheaply and all the pressure was now on Poskitt.

He got the equation down to 11 needed off 7 balls but Adam Walker ended a superb penultimate over by bowling the opener for a magnificent 125 off 108 balls (10 fours, 8 sixes).

Gayan Maneeshan claimed the last wicket to seal a 9-run win.

Fox Lodge now need to beat Ardmore next Sunday and hope that Coleraine fail to win at St Johnston.

Eglinton and Newbuildings aren't mathematically safe yet, but play each other on Saturday.

The consolation for Coleraine is that Poskitt's brilliance ensured that they stay 6 points above Fox Lodge thanks to the five bonus points secured. Just how crucial they turn out to be will be clearer next weekend.

Donemana ensured their Premiership place for 2024 as a mature batting display saw them beat Newbuildings by 32 runs.

Levi Dougherty top-scored with an unbeaten half century (2 fours, 3 sixes) sharing a crucial 8th wicket stand of 52 with William McBrine (20) that helped them to 237 fo 9.

There were runs earlier for his siblings - DJ (37) and Ricky-Lee (30) - while Gary McClintock made 31.

For the hosts there was two wickets apiece for Johnny Thompson, Trent McKeegan and Jason Dunn.

Mark Hanna flew out of the traps with a 26-ball 44 (8 fours, 1 six) as he and Jason Dunn (40) shared an opening stand of 62.

Johnny Thompson's troublesome shoulder has him threatening retirement, but he saved his legs in a 53 that included 10 fours and a six, as he and Ryan Hunter (32) looked to be steering their side to the win with a fourth wicket stand of 68.

However, JT's dismissal saw the last seven wickets fall for 44, as they collapsed to 205 all out, and they will now need two points from their final game with Eglinton to ensure that they finish in the top 8.

Strabane finished the season on a winning note as they edged out Bonds Glen by 15 runs in the Park.

Batting first, an opening stand of 88 between Nasir Nawaz (50) and Kevin Gallagher (44) should have provided the platform for a total of 200 plus, but they spluttered to 158 all out with three wickets apiece for David Cooke, Raymond Curry and Sam Kincaid.

Bonds Glen though found the going equally tough as they managed only three boundaries in their 40 overs to end on 143 for 7.

The game was most notable for the appearance of former Irish international Peter Gillespie who took the nail out of the boots to make a comeback - making 18 and taking the wicket of John Long (20).

Raymond Curry top-scored with 25 before he heads off to sunnier climes in Australia where he will face tougher challenges than this game which had a distinct end of class feel with both sides having nothing of consequence at stake, having already been consigned to the Championship next season.