Then there were four. Four sides will play three matches in two venues to decide the winner of the 2019 IBI Corporate Finance Leinster Senior League Cup. Picking that winner ahead of the semi-finals is a tricky task.
The Hills v Pembroke, The Vineyard, Saturday June 1st, 12pm
The Hills marched through Group A with a perfect six wins from six to guarantee a home semi-final before the final round of matches last weekend. Luke Clinton took a barely believable 7-13 in a 10-wicket win over North County.
However, their defeat of YMCA came with just two wickets in hand and three balls to spare so they didn’t have it all their own way through the group stages. Daya Singh will be the key figure in their semi-final with Pembroke.
Singh has struck three half-centuries and a century in his six group matches, taking 16 wickets with an economy rate of just four, at the same time. Opener Cormac McLoughlin-Gavin has been in fine form with the bat for both club and the Leinster Lightning Bolts and will look to take the attack back to the bowlers.
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While they had a day off last Sunday, Pembroke went to Clontarf and comfortably defeated the Bulls to hold off Leinster and qualify for the semis. Theo Lawson struck a majestic 122 not out as the men from Sydney Parade ran out 8-wicket winners.
Pembroke have assembled a fine squad this season, with the potential for four senior internationals to play but Lawson has been in imperious form with the bat so far. Last Sunday’s hundred was his second successive ton having gone large against Rush the week before.
With the likes of Lawson, the all-rounders Shaheen Khan, Fiachra Tucker and JJ Garth not to mention internationals Andrew Balbirnie, Barry McCarthy and Josh Little likely to feature, it’s probable Pembroke will have too much firepower for the home side.
However, with the prospect of a home final ahead of them, Joey Carroll, Mark Donegan and captain Tomas Rooney-Murphy would relish the opportunity to lead their side to victory.
Peter’s Prediction: Pembroke
Merrion v Phoenix, Anglesea Road, Saturday June 1st, 12pm
Merrion, like The Hills, won six from six and had last Sunday off ahead of this weekend’s home semi-final. However, they were much more dismissive and clinical in their victories than the Group A table-toppers from Fingal.
Early in the season, Michael Lewis (114 & 90) led the way with the bat as they posted well over 300 against Terenure and Clontarf. He was ably assisted by the evergreen John Anderson and backed up by Tyrone Kane and Max Sorensen with the ball.
Against Rush it was Dom Joyce (143) and Tyrone Kane (85 off 58) who posted 333, while Sorensen was virtually unplayable taking 6 for 46. Be it Joyce, Anderson, Lewis, Kane, Sorensen; Merrion have match-winners with bat and ball throughout the side.
Even young men making the step up have performed for Merrion this season. Peter Forkin made his debut against Leinster and proceeded to take 5-15 in a man of the match display.
Facing them in the semi-final will be Phoenix, who came through an effective quarter-final in Malahide last weekend. Both sides had only been beaten by group winners The Hills and were guaranteed Premier League cricket later in the summer, therefore this was a free hit for a semi-final place.
A sublime 117 run partnership between Ben Beecroft (79) and Simi Singh (79*) backing up a fine team-performance in the field gave Phoenix an 8-wicket win.
Phoenix strengthened in the off-season with the arrivals of internationals Singh and James Shannon, while Nic Pretorius moved from The Hills and Poonish Mehta from Merrion, and this has made a big difference after a tough 2018 season.
Phoenix look a strong balanced side, with Ben White and Matt Lunson offering further threat with the ball and Beecroft, Louis McDonough and Adam Chester capable of making big runs.
Merrion’s players have been there and done it before while Phoenix are hoping this new side can put it all together when it matters most.
Peter’s Prediction: Merrion
IBI Corporate Finance Leinster Senior League Cup
Semi-Finals
Saturday 1st June 2019, 12pm start
The Hills v Pembroke, The Vineyard
Merrion v Phoenix, Anglesea Road