CLONTARF EDGE FINAL BALL CASTLE AVENUE THRILLER

In a winner takes all situation, it was always likely that the Clontarf and Malahide game would come down to the finest margins and so it proved.  With 6 needed off the final over, 4 singles off the first 4 balls put Clontarf in poll position but then Alistair Frost found a way past Kashif Ali and bowled him bringing David Vincent to the crease to join his fellow youth player John McNally.  Their mid wicket chat can only have revolved around running and keep running. So when Vincent hit the final ball to extra they set off, an over throw and arguably a throw to the wrong end meant that they completed the 2 needed to win in relative comfort.  An extraordinary end to a game that promised much but failed to deliver in many respects other than excitement.

Malahide won the toss and batted but at the end of the power play their total of 27 for 4 was far below what they might have expected. While Clontarf bowled and caught well, some of the damage was self inflicted on a tricky wicket which made scoring freely difficult.  The honourable exception was captain Fintan McAllister who dug in and helped make sure that they got a total that gave them a chance of defending.  His 46 stands out in a total where no other batsman reached double figures in the final total of 96 for 8.  Fionn Hand finished with 3 wickts while Mick Granger and David Delany both got 2 in fieleding and bowling display that will have pleased Clontarf.

Malahide needed wickets early and after an outstanding Newland first over, Frost bowled Forrest with his first ball.  PJ Moor was joined by Eoghan Delany.  Moor started well while Delany recognising that someone had to drop anchor got ready for the long haul.  On 19 and the score at 22 Moor mistimed to mid off and was caught, bringing David Delany to the wicket to join his older brother. They brought the score to 45 before David departed. 

A pattern was developing, promising partnerships were developed but ended just as the home side seemed to be in control. However neither David Delany nor Fionn Hand dismissals will win any prizes for aesthetics.  It looked like it would be the experience of Eoghan Delany and the youth of John McNally that would get Clontarf over the line but Newland - who along with Keith Reynolds bowled excellent spells - ended Eoghan's stay in the second last over, having scored 28.  It was left to the young ones to win the game and so they did in the most dramatic style.