SPRINT COATINGS SENIOR CUP (18.7.2023)

Despite the continued unsettled weather, both of the Sprint Coatings Women’s Senior Cup semi-finals were completed earlier this evening at Claremont Road and Anglesea Road.

Merrion beat Malahide by 9 wkts on DLS

Batting first at Anglesea Road, Malahide compiled a competitive total of 108-3 off their 17.5 overs which was built around a solid opening partnership of 67 between Amy Hunter and Bella Armstrong and 25 off 21 balls from Arlene Kelly at number 3.

Hunter (48) was the big wicket, falling to Raack when she was well caught in the deep by Niamh MacNulty, two short of a half century.

Arlene Kelly continued to attack for Malahide but when Rachel Delaney tempted her down the track, Ally Boucher did well behind the stumps to stump her for the the third wicket of the innings.

Sarah Condron (8) and Anna Kerrison (2) batted out the rest of the overs to help Malahide post a total of 108/3 from their allotment. Raack, who took 2-29, was the pick of the bowlers while Leah Paul (0-19) and Rachel Delaney (1-10) were miserly in the latter stages.

All the Merrion bowlers performed well with Celeste Raack taking 2-29 including both openers. Rachel Delaney took 1-10 off her 3 overs including that important dismissal of Kelly to a smart stumping by Ally Boucher.

Merrion’s International duo of Leah Paul & Rebecca Stokell then made light work of the chase posting an opening partnership of 84 before Stokell was dismissed lbw for 43 off the bowling of Maria O’Halloran. Paul finished unbeaten on 48* off just 45 balls as Merrion prevailed by 9 wickets.

YMCA lost to Pembroke by 25 runs on DLS

Pembroke batted first at Claremont Road and posted 127-4 off their 18 overs with experienced opener Mary Waldron anchoring the innings for a well made, run-a-ball unbeaten 50. 

Mary Waldron made an unbeaten 50* to lead Pembroke into the Final.

Mary was well supported by solid knocks from both Orla Prendergast (25 off 18 balls) and Shauna Kavanagh (27 off 23 balls). The wickets for YM were shared between Alice Tector, Sarah Forbes and Robyn Lewis.

In reply, YM openers Gaby Lewis and Siuin Woods put on a brisk 33 for the first wicket before Louise Little captured the vital wicket of Lewis for just 19. Wickets then began to fall at regular intervals in the face of tight Pembroke bowling and fielding.

Kate McEvoy and Jenny Gray then combined to post 29 off 5 overs before McEvoy was dismissed by Mhairi Nicoll who came on as the sixth bowler used by Pembroke. Orla Prendergast then returned to take the wickets of Gray and Emma Forbes in successive deliveries. In the end, YM finished on 102-9 off their allotted overs.

Louise Little took 2-12, Orla Prendergast 2-20 with wickets also for Beale, Bell and Nicoll. 
Congrats to Pembroke and let’s hope we see further Senior Cup cricket at Claremont Road in subsequent years.

Based on this evening’s results, the Sprint Coatings Women’s Senior Cup Final will be between Pembroke CC and Merrion CC at Sydney Parade on Bank Holiday Monday, 7th August.

Pembroke will be looking for their first title since 2014 whilst Merrion will be defending the Senior Cup they won last year at the same venue.

Merrion won the Senior Cup at Sydney Parade in 2022.

The game will be live streamed via the CL YouTube channel with full commentary throughout.

The trophy will be presented to the winning team by Alan & Michelle Maginnis of Sprint Coatings as part of the after-match presentation party led by CL President, Pat Banahan.