The semi-final clash was staged at The Cloughan where Templepatrick were put in after losing the toss, and the visiting skipper's decision was vindicated when the locals were bowled out for only 121 in around 44 overs.

Andy McCrea top scored with a patient 44, but Craig Jennings was the only other batsman to get into double figures. During his innings Andy scored mainly in ones and twos with a few boundaries thrown in, but wickets kept falling at the opposite end, with the best partnership being one of eighteen with Craig.

The team's top two scorers, Brian Scroggie and John McCombe, were both unavailable, and their presence might have presented Laurelvale with a few more problems, but at any rate there was an atmosphere of despondency at the Templepatrick table during the tea break.

Laurelvale coasted into the final when they knocked off the 122 required for victory for the loss of only four wickets. Belfast High School student Ian Webber took 2 for 18 off five, while Ballyclare High School student Simon Shannon returned figures of 2 for 12 off four.

Commenting, pace bowler Peter McDonald, who announced his retirement immediately after the game due to knee problems, said, "The match was played in glorious sunshine in Ballyclare, but our batsmen were unable to take advantage of the conditions. As a bowler I noted that the ball kept low on occasions, so that was a contributory factor to the low scoring.

"During the tea break we reckoned that we had not done enough with the bat to secure a place in the final. We felt that a tally much nearer two hundred would have given us a fighting chance, but we set out to make it difficult for the opposition. Chasing down a low target, the Laurelvale batsmen played sensibly, and were home and dry with plenty of overs to spare, making it an early finish," concluded Peter.

Templepatrick II will have no matches this weekend.