Five-Star Show from O’Reilly as Young Guns take YMCA to victory over Clontarf

Mikey O’Reilly’s magnificent five-wicket haul laid the groundwork for a nail-biting 5-wicket victory for YMCA over Clontarf at Claremont Road on Saturday.

O’Reilly bowled aggressively and came back strongly having been dispatched over deep square leg by Robert Forrest’s thunderous start to proceedings.

Clontarf had the better of the opening powerplay but when O’Reilly had Forrest (36) caught behind off the last ball of the 6^th over, it sparked a dramatic change in momentum.

From 48/1 at that point, Clontarf succumbed to 96 all out off their 20 overs. O’Reilly was even on a hat-trick in the tenth over as he picked up the wickets of Azmat and Ahmed in successive deliveries leaving the visitors 58/5.

The first of these wickets saw the left-armer take a good catch on his follow-through after the ball ricocheted up of bat and then pad. Rory Anders, who took 1-19 himself, gave O’Reilly his fifth wicket diving forward to take the catch at long-on to dismiss Conor Kelly.

Mitchell Thompson (1-9) bowled extremely economically as the young guns stole the show with the ball for YM.

This proved the case with the bat too, as after both Thompson and Jack Tector departed, Tim Tector (33) looked certain to guide his side to a comfortable victory.

Clontarf and their wise old heads of Conor Kelly (2-13) and Shariful Islam (2-19) had other ideas however. When Islam removed Tector followed by de Klerk in the 18^th over, YMCA still needed 10 off the final two overs.

While some bit their nails, Bobby Gamble (28*) and JJ Cassidy (8*) had everything under control to take YMCA to a first victory of the season in the LHW Financial Planning Leinster Senior League Cup.

An addition to YMCA’s jerseys this season sees the letters CNSW stitched into the collar. This is a subtle tribute to members of the YMCA community lost in recent times. They are Claire Tuite, Nicola Walker, David ‘Slobo’ Rodgers and Wes Earl. A more formal tribute will take place ahead of next week’s match against Balbriggan.

Elsewhere in Group B

Malahide had their second big win out of two as they defeated Terenure by 9-wickets in The Village. The visitors made 107/6 off their allocation, but that included an excellent half-century from Seamus Lynch (50). It was Greg Ford who provided the fireworks for Malahide this week as his unbeaten 57 off 38 deliveries saw Malahide home with more than seven overs to spare.

North County also moved to two from two with a 3-run victory over Fingal rivals The Hills at Inch. Eddie Richardson (43), Salman Aziz (33) and John Mooney (32) dominated as the home side made 139/8, despite Tomas Rooney-Murphy taking 5-22 in his spell. Cormac McLoughlin-Gavin’s (53) half-century proved in vain as North County shared the wickets and restricted The Hills to 136/7.

Perhaps the surprise packet of the season so far, Railway Union, also have two wins after they cruised to a 9-wicket win away at Jack Harper Memorial Park against Balbriggan. Oliver Perry took 3-8, while Alex Stiles (2-11) and Eoghan Grehan (2-14) took two apiece as the home side were bundled out for 68. Young Alex Stiles (32*) and not quite as young Kenny Carroll (25*) took Railway to a comfortable win.

Group A

At Anglesea Road, Merrion made it two wins from two as they beat Trinity by 6-wickets thanks to John Anderson’s 60 not out. This came after two wickets apiece from Amish Sidhu (2-11) and Sean Stanton (2-13) had restricted Trinity to 104/7.

Leinster recovered from last week’s defeat to beat Rush, in their season opener, by 3-wickets in a low scoring thriller at Observatory Lane. Monil Patel took 3-16 as Rush were bowled out for 90. In reply, Hardus Venter made 34 before having to retire hurt with seven runs required, before Leinster got there off the final ball of the match despite tight bowling from Eoghan Conway (2-13) and Nathan McGuire (1-8), including three maidens in their eight overs.

LHW Financial Planning Leinster Senior League Cup 20-over

Group B

YMCA v Clontarf, Claremont Road, Saturday July 25^th  

Clontarf 96 a/o 20 Overs (R Forrest 36, D Vincent 18; M O’Reilly 5-24, M Thompson 1-9)

YMCA 97/5 19.3 Overs (T Tector 33, R Gamble 28*; C Kelly 2-13, S Islam 2-19)

YMCA won by 5 wickets