SKELLIG SIX 18 - LEINSTER SENIOR CUP FINAL (SATURDAY 3.8.2024)

This most prestigious Open Senior Cup competition dates back 89 years to 1935 and was initially played for by eight clubs - Leinster, Civil Service, Clontarf, Merrion, Dublin University, Pembroke, Phoenix and YMCA. By 1940, there were thirteen entrants, the then seven Senior League teams plus Carlisle, Cremore, Imperial Tobacco, Malahide, Monkstown, and Railway Union. For some years in the 1940s, some second elevens even took part.

The competition has been played in various formats over the decades. This (2024) iteration has been played as a white-ball (coloured kit) knock-out competition.

The host club, Pembroke has won this trophy on 13 occasions, most recently in 2022 when they prevailed against Clontarf.

Phoenix (who have won the trophy 15 times) will be looking to claim this prestigious trophy which they last won in 1982 (some 42 years ago).

Pembroke and Phoenix have met three times in previous Senior Cup Finals in 1935, 1946 and 1973.

PEMBROKE'S PATH TO THE FINAL
Round One: Pembroke beat Rush by 5 wkts.
Quarter-Final: Pembroke beat Balbriggan by 6 wkts.
Semi-Final: Pembroke beat Leinster by 8 wkts.

PHOENIX'S PATH TO THE FINAL
Round One: Phoenix beat Merrion by 12 runs.
Quarter-Final: Phoenix beat Railway Union by 109 runs.
Semi-Final: Phoenix beat Malahide by 3 wkts.

Kicking off our look at this Saturday’s fixture with the home side, Pembroke boast a side that isn’t too far off full strength, only really missing Barry McCarthy from their semi-final line-up, and boosted by the return of both Lorcan Tucker and Harry Tector who haven’t featured in a number of weeks due to international duties. That pair slot into the side at numbers three and four, making an already strong batting line-up look formidable. Tim Tector and JJ Garth will be the pair at the top of the order, with skipper Nick Stapleton sliding to number 5 to accommodate the returning internationals. Jack Tector and Fiachra Tucker have found themselves finishing off innings’ brilliantly in the 50 over format this season, and are likely to be tasked with doing just that once again in this fixture. Greg Hollins continues behind the stumps, having played a crucial role there in their recent tie with Leinster in the Premier League. With the ball, the Sydney Parade outfit’s attack is led by Stapleton and Olly Riley, whilst their third seamer has been the one in the best form in the league so far this season, Byron McDonough, who has bowled some vital spells in recent weeks. They boast the option of three spinners, Paul Lawson leads the way with his offies, accompanied by JJ Garth’s leg-breaks and the added option of Harry Tector’s off-spin which is more than useful.

In the lead up to this fixture, we got some insight from Pembroke skipper Nick Stapleton, who’s looking forward to a tough game this weekend, and has highlighted his side’s fighting spirit as one of the major reasons for their success so far;

“Our boys have played really well for each other throughout the season. Someone has always stepped up and taken the game on when needed and we’ve thoroughly enjoyed the journey so far.”

When asked about the dangers in the Phoenix side, Stapleton prefers to take the pragmatic approach, to look after your own game first;

“They have danger men all across their XI. We aren’t getting too focused on any individuals, more about what’s worked well for us as a group so far and trying to replicate that.

We’re really looking forward to the challenge, it should be a great game against a very strong Phoenix team.”

Phoenix meanwhile will also be looking to be back close to full strength for the first time since their semi-final, and will be hoping to see a similar impact to what happened that day, with their victory against Malahide coming largely thanks to a one man salvo of Leinster Lightning skipper George Dockrell, who made 116 in a brilliant run chase. Their primary batters outside of Dockrell include the likes of Aussie Jack Lalor, opener Johit Munjal, Callum O’Byrne, and their middle order of all-rounders including Tyrone Kane, Shane Getkate and captain/wicket-keeper Adam Chester, all of whom are capable of producing match-winning innings’ on their day. With the ball, Phoenix will be looking to Kane and Lalor early on, with their other medium pace coming from Getkate, whilst their spinners are truly the trump card in the side, Amish Sidhu’s left-arm offies backed up by Ben White and Dockrell, with the trio making up one of the better spin attacks that can be found in the country. Dev Ranolia is another potential option they could look to with the ball, as they will be hoping to get on top of Pembroke in the middle overs through their spinners in particular.

These sides have had an extremely mixed record in recent times, since Covid, they have faced each other 8 times, with Phoenix winning five of those encounters, however even more recently, Pembroke have won two of the last three, claiming all 25 league points on both occasions, whilst Phoenix’s 7 wicket win in August last year came when Pembroke had already secured promotion to the Premier League and had one hand on the Championship trophy. The key may well be that of Pembroke’s 320/9 they made in the first game of the season between these two, 213 of them came from the bats of Harry Tector and Lorcan Tucker, who now both appear in the game this weekend.

This fixture always throws up some sort of magic, with the ball in particular, however that really does open the door up for someone to produce something special with the bat. Tyrone Kane’s opening spell for Phoenix is set to be a vital stage of the game, and he will most likely face up against Lorcan Tucker at some point in that spell. If Tucker can get on top of Kane, it will give Pembroke a massive advantage early in the piece.

KEY BATTLE: Lorcan Tucker vs Tyrone Kane

You can follow the score via the CL Match Centre - www.cricketleinster.ie/match-centre or watch the stream via the CL YouTube channel.

The Skellig Six 18 Senior Cup Final will take place this Saturday 3rd August in Sydney Parade and will be live-streamed with full commentary throughout the day. There is also a CL Patron's Lunch on the day being hosted by Siobhan McBennett, CL 2024 President.

Our thanks to June O'Connell, CEO Skellig Six 18 for her unstinting support for club cricket across Leinster. We are delighted that June will be able to join us at the Final to present the trophy to the 2024 Champions.