Last week the season really got into gear with a series of exceptionally close results. Two of these games were fought out [with a win each] between Pembroke and Merrion who meet on Sunday for the fourth time [Merrion won an Alan Murray encounter during the week] in ten days. This time it is the RSA Irish Senior Cup with a place in the Semi-Finals as a reward for the winner.
Clontarf [at home to St Johnston] and Railway v The Hills are the other two matches involving Leinster teams – all played on Sunday. Having listened to the three pundits on the Slog Sweep give their views on the likely outcomes and noted the predictions based on the All Ireland Rankings produced by Paul Reynolds, I am not sure what further there is to add. It all seems done and dusted.
I remember reading somewhere that in ancient China [at least for a time] they had a very civilised way of conducting warfare. The two armies would rack up and the generals and their staffs would meet and decide who was in the stronger position and having reached a consensus on the matter – the general who was expected to lose would then surrender. Of course cricket isn’t like warfare – it is much more complex. So regardless of how many predictions are made – there are sure to be surprises.
Despite their familiarity with each other this year, Pembroke and Merrion have not met in the Irish Cup since 2005 when Merrion beat Pembroke by 104 runs in the second round. Merion’s groundsman Angus Fleming got five wickets that day and skipper Dom Joyce scored a century. It is not much of a guide though for the current clash. According to the pundits [and the rankings] Merrion go into the match as marginal favourites but much will depend on their injury list. A full strength Pembroke side will be hoping to make it two out of four – the neutrals [not that there are too many to them around these days] will be hoping for another close game.
Clontarf take on St Johnston in Castle Avenue. St Johnston are currently in third place in the North West’s Championship [D2] so Clontarf start from the stronger position. But they will remember that it was not so long ago that a team from D2 won the Irish Senior Cup. Clontarf have won their last three games in all forms of cricket so are in good form but have been very reliant on Bill Coghlan, Andrew Poynter and Eoghan Delany to get their runs.
The final match between Railway and The Hills sees a repeat of last week’s game, which The Hills won by 38 runs. This was a reverse of first match of the season when Railway won by 66 runs [DL]. There is probably not much between the sides but current form favours the visitors, with Conor McLoughlin making a lot of runs and The Hills bowling attack, especially if on this occasion Max Sorensen is allowed to bowl more than one over, being the stronger.
In the league on Saturday Terenure will be hoping that their close encounter with Clontarf last weekend provides the platform for going one better against Merrion. For different reasons both teams need a win out of this. Pembroke take on The Hills in Sydney Parade. This could be a tight match as the teams are reasonably evenly matched. Pembroke’s experience in tight corners may just see them through. Railway will struggle against YMCA who look to be getting better and better each week with a lot of players in good nick. Finally, Clontarf should be too strong for North County, especially as John Mooney is absent from the NC colours.
In D2, Malahide entertain Cork County, neither side having lost so far this season in the league. The hosts look to have the better all round side but this is a vital game as the two head-to-heads between the sides will surely determine the title.
Merrion welcome an inform Balbriggan team, who will be disappointed to have lost by one wicket to North County in the Alan Murray [T20] during the week. Merrion will need to stop Muhammad Farrukh getting another big score if they are to have any chance.
Phoenix take on Pembroke II and simply cannot afford for there to be any more slip ups against teams competing with them in the relegation zone. They should win but it could be a tense affair in the Phoenix Park. The final match is between Rush and Leinster where the latter have managed a few good results of late and will go into the match the more hopeful. Neither side has really played to their potential so far this year.
Teams [as available]
Terenure: S Moreton, D Langford-Smith, C Dickeson, D van Zyl, J Smith, C Morgan, C Kelly, T Williamson, R Jones, K Brennan, U Jehangir
Leinster: C Mallon, H MacDonnell, J Carroll, P Johnston, JP O’Dwyer, R Forrest, J Kerrison, C O’Gorman, R Kenealy, D Coad, B Azhar.
Malahide: C Riches, A Reynolds, R Strydom, F McAllister, J Govan, G Deans, I Guerin, P Chase, C Shoebridge, A Morris, P Saville.
Merrion [Sat] D Joyce, B Thompson, T Kane, J Anderson, B Ackland, D Watkins, C Allwright, D Poder, J Short, T Smith, T Stanton. S Morrissey in for Poder on Sun.
Merrion II K Beasley, C O’Donoghue, A Parkinson, B Bhathal, P Tice, R Walsh, R Bridge, I Joyce, A O’Brien, N Sharma, R Ensor.
Clontarf [Sat] E Delany, B Coghlan, M Collier, A Poynter, D Delany, C Currie, A D’Arcy, C D’Arcy, Z vd Merve, J Morrissey, V Gopal. P Ryan in for A D’Arcy on Sun.
YMCA: A vd Merve, T Fisher, J Tector, S Singh, PJ Moor, S McAuley, A Lewis, B Gamble, D McDonagh-Kinkade, Y Ali Shah, R Chawla.
North County: C Sheil. A Coughlan, T Sheil, E Richardson, J Newland, N Rooney, T Affleck, K Ali, J Grassi, D Csey, R Staunton