Previews for all today's Open Competitions matches can be found over on the Match Centre, and are here as well if you prefer.
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Balbriggan 2 vs Merrion 3 - Two unbeaten teams go up against each other in Division 4. Balbriggan beat Wexford Wanderers 1 in a low scoring affair last week, whilst Merrion beat Knockharley 1. Balbriggan 2 have been playing approximately a division below Merrion for the last six years, but never in the same competitions, and hence a first match between the teams today.
Malahide 2 vs Merrion 2 - Merrrion were convincing winners over Clontarf 2 in their first natch, whilst Malahide have had their first two matches rained off. Seven of their last nine matches have gone Merrion's way, with all four of the matches in Malahide also being won by Merrion. However, in all cricket Malahide 2 have won their last five matches, and a win today, will equal their best run since 2011, with runs of six matches without a loss in 2012/13 and across the middle of last summer.
North County 2 vs Railway Union 2 - A win and a loss for Railway Union 2 in the 2nd XI Premier League, with North County 2 yet to start their league season. North County have won the last four matches between the sides, with Railway's last win being in 2017.
Pembroke 2 vs YMCA 2 - The 2018 and 2019 winners of this league face off in an early season encounter in Sydney Parade. The last six matches between them have all gone the way of Pembroke, with YM's last win (also in Sydney Parade) being back in September 2018. The only century in matches between these sides (going back to the start of the 2011 season) has been by Danny Hogan (104*) for Pembroke last August. The two best bowling returns are both by Andrew Leonard for Pembroke, 7-20 (Aug 2021) and 6-21 (June 2014)
The Hills 2 vs Phoenix 2 - Phoenix are yet to start their league campaign, with The Hills getting an unexpected bonus last week, when YMCA 2 gave them a walkover. This is the 16th meeting between the sides since the start of the 2015 season, so they know each other well. In that period, the leading run scorer for Phoenix has been Sayed Mehdi Shah with 352 runs at 29.33, whilst their leading wicket taker was Vish Vaidyanathan with 14 at 23.07. For The Hills, top batter was Harry Archer with 277 at 25.18, and leading bowler was Killian Everard with 16 wickets at 26.44
Castleknock 2 vs Ashbourne 1 - Division 9 had been effected more than most other leagues. Castleknock 2 have had one match rained off. And Ashbourne haven't even had that. The teams have clashed once before - in a Whelan Cup quarter final in 2017. Ashbourne only made 92 due to Faran Khalid taking 4-10. But the Ashbourne bowling attack was superb in response, and Castleknock were bowled out for 84.
Greystones 4 vs Adamstown 8 - No preview, as previous matches this season involving these teams still to be processed.
Ongar 1 vs North County 5 - Four times the newly formed Ongar CC has completed a match this year, and four times they have won. In Division 14, the first team has already won twice, beating Slieve Bloom 1 and Malahide 5. For North County 5, this is the first league game of the season - their two Junior Cup matches have been rained off.
North Kildare 6 vs Rush 4 - No preview, as previous matches this season involving these teams still to be processed.
Athlone 3 vs Mullingar 3 - A loss for Mullingar against Adamstown 7 last week at least got their league season up and running - Athlone 3 only have a rained off match to their name. The Westmeath derby (being played in Offaly) was played once before between these two teams, with Mullingar coming out on top by 38 runs thanks mainly to 38 from Samrat Ravula and 3-11 from Ahsan Matloob.
Sandyford 2 vs Greystones 2 - No preview, as previous matches this season involving these teams still to be processed.
Malahide 6 vs Terenure 4 - No preview, as previous matches this season involving these teams still to be processed.
Rush 2 vs North Kildare 2 - No match between these two teams since 2014, when Rush won by 8 wickets, and for North Kildare's last win, you need to go back to 2013. That last victory saw 105* from Patrick Monks, and a third wicket unbroken partnership of 110 between Monks and Patrick Sheridan, which at the time was Rush 2's highest second wicket partnership since beaten by Finn McGee and Saadat Gull's 164* against Phoenix 2 in 2021.
Leinster 3 vs Mullingar 1 - Leinster 3 have started the season well, winning two matches, including their only Division 6 game to escape the weather. The matches contribute to a winning streak of five matches, which equals their longest streak we have on record, winning five matches between July and August 2021. The head to head between the sides is 5-4 in Leinster's favour, and 3-2 in Observatory Lane.
Phoenix 5 vs North Kildare 4 - Historically, North Kildare 4 have operated at a level of 15-20 places below Phoenix 5 in the league. However, of the 16 previous seasons that they have both played in the league, 2022 was the first time that North Kildare have finished the season in a higher position. In all those seasons, they have never faced off.
Longford 1 vs Carlow 1 - No preview, as previous matches this season involving these teams still to be processed.
Terenure 2 vs Clontarf 4 - Two teams who have not had the best of starts to their league campaign. Clontarf have lost to both Longford 1 and Railway Union 3, whilst Terenure have also lost to Railway. If the weather plays ball, at least one of them will still be winless come tonight. Surprisingly, the two teams have never met, despite being within ten league places of each other for the last five seasons.
Gorey 1 vs Dundalk 1 - These two played out a brilliant match last year, in their one previous meeting. Brady Archer top scored for Gorey with 52* as the Wexford side built a decent 141/2. In reply Dundalk relied on Shahid Moahmood (55) and Syed Ibnan Ali Shah (41) before Khan Khan took 4-4 to give the game to Gorey by 4 runs.
Merrion 5 vs Swords 2 - No preview, as previous matches this season involving these teams still to be processed.
YMCA 4 vs Tyrrelstown 2 - Not a great weekend for either team last week, as Tyrrelstown lost to Rush 3, and YMCA had to give two walkovers. YMCA 4 have lost their last six matches on the field, with their record losing run being seven matches from September 2021 to last June.
Clontarf 6 vs Railway Union 5 - A difficult start to the league season for CLontarf 6 with defeats to Athlone 2 and Laois 3, whilst Railway have beaten Tyrrelstown 4 and lost to Laois 3. Railway's last win in this fixture was a Division 13 match back in 2011. Gavin Robinson took 7-34 for Railway, as the Clontarf lower order collapsed to 184 all out. Dhram Singh is now playing interpro cricket for the Warriors, but in this match he scored 68, as Railway won by 2 wickets. Clontarf won the last two meetings - back in 2017.
Swords 5 vs Clontarf 7 - No preview, as previous matches this season involving these teams still to be processed.
Adamstown 7 vs Balbriggan 4 - Balbriggan are yet to complete a game in the pitch (in the league), whilst Adamstown beat Mullingar 3 last week. The pair have completed two matches, both in 2022, with Balbriggan winning both. In fact in those matches, Balbriggan scored a total of 369 for the loss of only three wickets, Druhan Knight scoring 87 across the two matches.
Halverstown 2 vs Merrion 7 - No preview, as previous matches this season involving these teams still to be processed.
Civil Service 3 vs Adamstown 2 - One league win so far for Civil Service 3 (over Castleknock 1) and one loss so far for Adamstown 2 (to Phoenix 3). They last met in the 2014 season, when both teams were playing at a level approximately five divisions lower than they are now.
Tyrrelstown 5 vs Leinster 6 - No preview, as previous matches this season involving these teams still to be processed.
Clondalkin 3 vs Kilkenny 3 - Somehow, Kilkenny 3 have yet to have a game rained off, with two wins (over Rush 4 and Finglas 3) from three league matches, Clondalkin's only completed match was now a month ago - losing to Swords on Easter Sunday. No previous meetings between the two teams, who are fighting over the 3rd team bragging rights - Clondalkin were 25th in 2022, and Kilkenny 28th.
Laois 2 vs Leinster 4 - Two clubs that have started 2023 strongly. Laois as a whole are 3-1, whilst Leinster are 3-0 (not all matches have been processed). Laois 2's last league title was Division 12 in 2021 (although that was also the lowest league position they have ever finished), whilst Leinster 4 are probably overdue a successful season, their last league silverware being Division 8 back in 2014.
Adamstown 4 vs Lucan 2 - Lucan have won one and lost one in the league, whilst Adamstown 4 start their league season today. For those of you unfamiliar with the geography of west Dublin, Adamstown is just south of Lucan, but they currently play their home matches in Corkagh Park, nearer to Clondalkin. Lucan themselves play in St Catherine's Park, across the Liffey, and closer to Blanchardstown. It makes more sense on the pitch - in five previous meetings between the teams, Lucan have made it a clean sweep.
Finglas 2 vs Adamstown 5 - A first meeting between the two teams. Adamstown 5 are playing their 8th league season, with Finglas 2 playing their third. Remarkably, Finglas have already won two league titles (Division 15 and 16) but will presumably find Division 13 a good bit harder. Adamstown are yet to win any league titles. They are the sixth ranked 5th team in the province, with North Kildare being above them in 5th.
Railway Union 4 vs Malahide 4 - These two met three times last season, with Malahide winning all three matches. Railway Union have started the season well though, the club being 7-4 for matched that have been submitted, and today could be closer than those three Malahide wins last year would suggest. The teams are fighting over who is the 6th best fourth team in the province.
Wicklow County 1 vs Pembroke 4 - A rare T20 Cup match in a weekend of league cricket. Pembroke 4 play their first Inter Cup game, whilst Wicklow County have lost to Leinster 4 as well as having one abandoned. Wicklow County had an excellent record between the teams, winning three in a row between 2018 and early 2022. But in two more matches at the back end of 2022, Pembroke turned the tables. The match on 15 Sept 2018 saw two hundreds, as Sahil Manchanda's 101 saw Pembroke score 230/4 from 35 overs, before Nicky Fusco's 102 saw Wicklow County win by 8 wickets with over five overs to spare.