There will be general satisfaction in Leinster that the local challenge for the 2017 National Cup has survived the first round of matches. All the main Leinster Division 2 sides, from where one might expect a challenge for the title to come, are still in the competition, albeit that North Kildare have to replay their abandoned game against Bonds Glen. As it turned out this was the only match that did not finish on the day, a pretty good outcome given the widespread rainy conditions.
Malahide bowled out NW Championship [= Division 2] side Glendermott for 179 with James Newland [3/9] and David O’Shea [3/49] doing the damage. With the second innings cut short by bad weather Malahide [70/1] came out on top under DLS [which as I was reminded over the weekend is now the proper title rather than DL] by 15 runs.
Terenure had an away fixture against Holywood [NCU Section 1 = Division 2] and given their respective league forms [Holywood 2/2 / Terenure 0/2] this promised to be a tricky tie for the visiting team. As it turned out Terenure had a comfortable enough win, scoring 224/6 [Dan van Zyl, 78] and bowling the home side out for 134 [Syed Ali Shah 4/33]
Rush [the current NC holders] also had a good win against Ballyspallane [NW] chasing down a score of 215/6 [40 Overs] for the loss of only three wickets in the 38th over. Stephen Doheny [62] and Saadat Gull [56] making the bulk of the runs.
Further success for the Leinster clubs came with the 6 run victory of Knockharley [in their first outing in the competition] over Cork Harlequins. Knockharley batted first and made 199/9 and the Harlequins fell six short, also for the loss of nine wickets.
Three Leinster sides failed to progress to R2. Laois [last year’s finalists] had a rain affected game against Cregagh [190/7] and ended up on 56/2 after 18 overs, losing on DLS by 10 runs. Dundrum’s opponents were Downpatrick [twice winners of the ISC and one of the strongest teams in the competition], and the NCU side duly won by nine wickets chasing 101. And finally, Civil Service had an exciting and close fought match v Limerick that was badly affected by the weather. With a revised DLS target of 179 off 21, Limerick reached the desired total for the loss of five wickets with three balls to go.
So the teams going through to the next round are:
LCU [4] Rush, Malahide, Terenure, Knockharley
Munster [3] Co Kerry, Midelton, Limerick
NW [5] Sion Mills, Burndennett, Newbuildings, Strabane, Killyclooney
NCU [3] Derriaghy,, Downpatrick, Cregagh
Bonds Glen v North Kildare [re-play]
So overall most of the big names still in the competition, and a few surprises. Taking it as a whole [including the ISC] it would appear that the North West have marshalled their resources well. Their top teams in their Premier league are still in the ISC and they are also well represented in the National Cup.