The main interest this weekend turns to the Quarter Finals of the Leinster Senior Cup. First off - the weather forecasts range from mainly dry to start, some scattered showers and possibly heavy in the afternoon to cloudy with a passing shower, to risk of thunder storms. The hourly forecasts are hovering about 50% chance of rain for most of the day. The good news is that there is zero chance of snow and ice.
The outcomes of the four matches are equally uncertain. Clontarf take on Pembroke at Castle Avenue pitting the current two top teams in the league against each other. Both teams have piled on the runs this year and if we get in 60 overs today there could be more big totals. For Pembroke Daniel Solway comes into the match off a 153* against Merrion last weekend, and he has scored over 500 runs in Leinster so far this season. He can expect support from Theo Lawson, Conor Mullen, Danny Hogan and Lorcan Tucker [returning from Trinity], all of whom have made runs this year. But it is the strength and depth of the Clontarf batting line-up made up of Bill Coghlan, Charlie Wakim, Alex Cusack, Andrew Pointer, Robert Forrest and Eoghan Delany that could hold the key, With both opening bats making centuries last weekend [and Wakim scoring the first double century for Clontarf] it could be hard going for the bowlers. In the end the conditions may hold the key - will it favour the medium pace attack of Clontarf or the variety of spin from Pembroke.
Phoenix v Leinster in the Park is another intriguing prospect. Leinster lost a close encounter with Trinity last weekend and have been a bit short of matches. The team has also been awaiting the return of players from exams, university and injury. George Dockrell is now available after a successful period with Trinity. At the moment the batting line-up looks a little under cooked but players are beginning to show glimpses of form. The same cannot be said of Phoenix whose top order - Reinhardt Strydum, Nichoolas Pretorius, Masud Admed, Adam Chester and Sam Andersen have all been in the runs. In the bowling Leinster look to have the stronger attack - but can they take the early wickets needed to restrain a Phoenix team that is lying third in D1.
North Kildare v Railway will feel they have come well out of the QF draw and both can look forward to today’s match with reasonable expectations of progression. North Kildare have home advantage and are gradually acclimatising to the demands of Senior Cricket. They have had morale boosting wins over Malahide and Terenure in D2 and although they lost to Railway in an Alan Murray cup game they will have hopes of springing a surprise on their D1 opponents. Railway on the other hand have had a torrid time so far this year with the win against North Kildare being their only one of the season. But Kenny Carroll has scored over 450 runs in all forms of cricket this season [including 133* against Clontarf last weekend] and who is to say he won’t post another big score.
The final game sees a repeat encounter between Merrion and YMCA at Anglesea Road. There is little to choose between the form of the two teams, they are lying sixth and seventh respectively in the league, but when they met in the same venue in May YMCA came out on top. In that match YMCA were comfortable winners - mainly down to the stranglehold their spin attack was able to take over the Merrion middle order. Merrion will need to make sure the same does not happen again and will be hoping that John Anderson can add to his 500 plus runs so far this season. With Anglesea Road again producing a lot of runs this year - it may well come down to which blowing attack can control the run rate and take a few wickets before batsmen are set.