Donemana finish on right side of last-over drama to progress to Quarter-Finals in Irish Senior Cup
Merrion captain Max Sorensen had other ideas, and his five-wicket haul set up a tense finale that Donemana edged.
Earlier, Merrion's Australian professional Connor Blaxall-Hill top-scored with 109, adding 143 for the third wicket with John Anderson (64), but their middle and late-order has been their Achilles' heel and they failed to fire in the latter stages – all out for 222. That was to prove their downfall.
Lisburn and CIYMS made it three NI-based sides in the Quarter-Finals after they beat CSNI and Railway Union respectively.
Lisburn were in early trouble in the all-NCU clash, with Sean Davey's opening spell having them in trouble at 61 for four. Not for the first time in the 2025 season, Neil Whitworth and Nigel Jones got them out of a sticky situation in a fifth wicket stand worth 65.
Jones top-scored with 43, while Whitworth made 34 in a total of 180. It may not have looked too many, but an hour into the CSNI reply and they had stumbled to 55 for nine.
Josh Manley claimed a five-wicket haul, and there were two apiece for Ryan MacBeth and Adam Kennedy.
Paddy Beverland hit three sixes in a defiant 43 but it was all in vain as Lisburn won by 77 runs.
CIYMS produced a fine all-round display to oust Railway Union. Herman Rolfes hit eight fours and two sixes in a fine unbeaten 98 that propelled the Belmont side to 252 for six in 41 overs.
There were runs, too, for Chris Dougherty (53), Jack Beattie (30) and Carson McCullough (28).
The Dublin side looked threatening as opener Hedayat Khogiana thumped 11 fours and four sixes in a 79-ball century, adding 116 for the second wicket with Irish youth international Robert O'Brien.
It was very much in the balance at 161 for one in the 27th over, but teenage spinner Alex Armstrong broke the stand and went on to claim a five-wicket haul that included Ireland World Cup hero Kevin O'Brien in a 49-run win.
Instonians bowed out at Pembroke despite the hosts missing no fewer than six Irish internationals.
It was a seventh Andrew Balbirnie – surplus to requirements in T20Is – that was to be the match-winner. He survived an early lbw call to go on to make 118 (six fours, five sixes), sharing an opening stand of 102 with JJ Garth (40) as the hosts made 261 for seven.
The Shaw's Bridge reply was poor as they slumped to 115 for nine, given some respectability by a last wicket partnership of 50 between James Lambert (31 not out) and James Magee (20).
Coleraine must have thought they were in with a real chance against five-time winners North County after scoring 237 for three in 44 overs.
Louren Steenkamp made an even-time unbeaten 134 that included nine fours and six sixes, adding 177 in 30 overs with former Irish international David Cooke.
Brian Dunphy (86) and Jamie Grassi (79 not out) shared a match-winning fourth wicket stand of 156 to deny the Bannsiders.
Carrickfergus won a last-ball thriller at home to Fox Lodge to be the only NCU representative in the last-eight of the National Cup, while Isaac Bird scored 121 as Ballyspallen beat tournament favourites The Hills and Glendermott won a low-scoring game at St Johnston.
Meanwhile, Harry Brook's golden touch as England's white-ball captain continued as his side chased down 197 to clinch the T20 series with a four-wicket win over the West Indies in Bristol.
Brook has now won all five games since taking over from Jos Buttler and has the chance to match the 3-0 ODI whitewash in Southampton on Tuesday.
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