LHW Financial Planning Senior League Cup final preview

The flagship final of the 2020 season takes place today with the famous trophy being played for for the 86th time. Railway Union play in their 8th final, with two of those appearances being converted into wins - 1967 and 2010. Of course, this season has many differences, and never before has the Senior Cup been played for over 20 overs.

Railway's two T20 Alan Murray Cup successes were in 2004 and 2006. A YMCA win today would be the 12th time they have lifted the Leinster Senior Cup, which would bring them alongside Pembroke. Only Clontarf (14) and Phoenix (15) have won it more.

YMCA also have a phenomenal record in finals, and of the 14 previous finals, they have only lost three. Over recent years, this match up has been characterised by one side lording over the other. Railway won five matches on the bounce between 2011 and 2013, before a nine match, six year period of YMCA dominance. However, Railway Union have won the last two, including the first match in this year's competition, when 64 from Kenny Carroll saw Railway home by 3 runs.

Railway Union 1 - key players

Railway Union have only used twelve players throughout the competition, and that consistency is likely to continue today. The player "brought in" has been a certain Kevin O'Brien who missed most of the group games whilst on Ireland duty, but is sure to relish the opportunity of a big game. His last four innings against YMCA stretch back to 2012 and have been 103 (2012), 74 (2013), 35 (2013) and 98 (2015).

But there is so much more to Railway Union than Kevin O'Brien, and Kenny Carroll has once again been showing to all and sundry that he is still one of the best batsmen in Leinster. His 253 runs at 36.14 are the single biggest reason behind Railway's run to the final, although the support of captain Glenn Querl has been vital - 161 runs at 26.83. Run scoring has been slow going though, with only O'Brien (108) and Danny Barclay (110) scoring at quicker than a run a ball. That translates to the bowlers though, who have been miserly, with none going at more than six an over.

The leading wicket taker has been Prabhanshu Kamal with 15 at 10.13 (4.93 per over), followed by Alex Stiles (13 at 8 and an economy of 4.95) and Oliver Perry (12 at 12 at 5.84). Railway have more than enough match winners to have a real chance.

YMCA 1 - key players

As with Railway Union, most of the changes to YMCA's squad have been down to the return of Ireland players. Harry Tector, Simi Singh and Curtis Campher were all missing from the team that lost to Railway Union at the start of the competition, and the depth of talent is astonishing. In yesterday's Lightning intersquad game, YMCA had six players playing, with Rory Anders, Tim Tector, Jack Tector and Mitchell Thompson all playing their part in a high quality match. Throw in Bobby Gamble, Mikey O'Reilly, JJ Cassidy and Tom Anders, and Railway's task is apparent.

Those last four may be the more "unheralded", but in many ways they have been the beating heart of the team this season. Tom Anders took four wickets in the semi final, to make 15 wickets all told (at 10.27 at 5.13 runs per over). O'Reilly is the leadng wicket taker with 18 wickets at 8.83 (5.58 runs per over). Gamble has given middle order solidity with 114 runs (often at crucial times) at 28.50 and Cassidy's keeping has been delightful to watch.

And that just leaves three more batsmen who have scored more than 100 runs for the team this season - Jack Tector (157 at 19.63 and a strike rate of 136), Tim Tector (186 at 37.2 at 126) and Harry Tector (137 at 45.67 at 147)

Venue

Sydney Parade hasn't been the happiest of grounds for YMCA 1. Since August 2014, they have played eight matches and only won two. That includes two neutral Alan Murray Cup matches, losing a group game to The Hills by 2 runs in 2014 and a semi final to Merrion in 2018.

Using that same August 2014 mark, Railway Union have had a good record, playing three matches, and winning twice including a 40 over Leinster Senior Cup win in 2017.

The average Open Comps first innings score on teh ground this season has been 128, with the side batting first winning ten times, and the chasing side six times. The last two matches have seen Merrion's two run win after setting 134 and Leinster 2's four run win after getting exactly the same.