IBI CORPORATE FINANCE CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW – SEPT 2ND!

The IBI Corporate Finance Championship nears it’s conclusion this weekend, and has a far more cut-and-dry look to it at the moment than the Premier League does! This weekend’s fixtures see Terenure travel to Phoenix, Pembroke host Rush, whilst North County host North Kildare and finally there’s a big game at the bottom of the table where Cork County visit Civil Service.

Much can be decided this weekend, with a win of any margin good enough for Pembroke to secure the league title, and an instant return to the Premier League following their bottom placed finish last weekend. They face tough opposition however, as a defeat for Rush would almost certainly spell the end of their ambitions of reaching the promotion play-off. Phoenix sit 15 points clear of the Kenure men as it stands and a win for them over Terenure would see them in an excellent position to pick up the pieces should Pembroke slip up, and potentially confirm their spot in the promotion play-off place should results go their way. Meanwhile, North Kildare must beat North County to have any chance of finishing off the bottom of the table, whilst even that may not be enough, if Civil Service and Cork County were to play out a close win for the Phoenix Park side, that would condemn the Kilcock side to the foot of the division.

PHOENIX VS TERENURE

The game in the Park pits 2^nd vs 5^th in the table, and with Terenure having shown the ability to make big scores so far this season, Phoenix will need to be wary of the Clee. Leinster Lightning gloveman Séamus Lynch is their premier man, who will be a prized wicket for Phoenix in this game, whilst Raghav Grover and Henry Dall either side of Lynch will be important to allow the Dublin 6 men to accelerate in the back end of their innings. Phoenix meanwhile were excellent last weekend, not allowing the weather have any say as Oliver Hald and Amish Sidhu helped them blow Cork County away. The ever-evident concern around their batting would be alleviated with a return for George Dockrell, whilst Hald and Adam Chester are two men in the middle who would be likely contributors with the bat. Tyrone Kane remains a key wicket for the side.

KEY BATTLE: Amish Sidhu vs Raghav Grover

PEMBROKE VS RUSH

Off the back of a win in a rain affected game last weekend for Pembroke against Terenure, they find themselves just needing a win to secure the league title. Their side is anchored by overseas man Nick Stapleton, who’s massive century last weekend was the main bulk of their score. Fiachra Tucker has shown good form in the last few weeks, whilst Theo Lawson and Diarmaid Tucker formed a new opening pair last weekend which may prove promising. Rush meanwhile are without some key players from earlier in the season, however in form bowlers Allan Eastwood and Jarred Barnes will certainly prove an early test for the home side. The absence of Llew Johnson who has returned to New Zealand is an obvious blow to Rush with the reliance on the skipper Nathan McGuire growing.

KEY BATTLE: Nick Stapleton vs Nathan McGuire

NORTH COUNTY VS NORTH KILDARE

North County enter this game near enough to full strength, and having beaten off some early adversity last weekend to secure a DLS victory against Civil Service. Simi Singh and Eddie Richardson are obviously two major all-round dangers, however Alan Joseph Mathew has proved to be an important cog over the past couple of weekends. Niall McGovern and John Devane at the top of the order will be seeking to cash in against the bottom side in the league. In spite of their results, Husnain Maroof and Bakhtyar Nabi have produced some fine all-round displays in recent weeks, with many of NK’s closer games attributed exclusively to the impact which their two most important players have had on the game.

KEY BATTLE: Alan Joseph Mathew vs Bakhtyar Nabi

CIVIL SERVICE VS CORK COUNTY

The only game this weekend which pits two sides alongside each other in the league against each other sees Civil Service given the opportunity to leapfrog Cork County and once again leave the Leesiders in the bottom two at the end of the season. The home side welcome back Naveed Khan to join Mubasher Siddique with the new ball, with support from Aamir Bafanda. Simranjeet Singh, Srikanth Boddu and Binson Thambi will be key with bat in hand for the home side in their bid to get up to 6^th place. Cork County meanwhile remain reliant on Byron McDonough and Stefano di Bartolomeo’s all round skills to get them into competitive positions, whilst runs from Ross Durity and Thorne Prophet would also be more than welcome for the Munster men.

KEY BATTLE: Naveed Khan vs Stefano di Bartolomeo