The final of the this years U13 All-Ireland Cup Final took place in the fabulous facilities and ground of Bready Cricket Club.

YMCA took the long journey to take on the hosts.

 

Sunny day, soft pitch. Umpires: N.Dunne & P.Harrigan. Bready won the toss and decided to field.

 

The YM openers R.M.McGovern (2) and H.D.J.Kirk (1) found the early going tough. The Bready opening bowlers McKeegan & Kelly were on the money and both were dismissed cheaply. A mix up between H.T.Tector and R.A.Lewis (2) saw the latter run out and YM were 18/3 in the 7th over. The next 2 YM bats S.L.Streek (8) and L.A.O'Reilly (5) used up valuable time in the middle building useful partnerships with Tector of 15 & 27 respectively. YM were now 60/5 in the 25th over. Stephen Keane & A.D.Blair-White followed quickly, however Shane Keane joined Tector and scored a quick-fire 12 from 10 balls to lift the score into the 90s and after Tector (52 from 83 balls) was dismissed in the last over the YM innings ended quickly for a total of 95, with 3 balls remaining of their allotted 30 overs. Harry Tector was fantastic, playing all around the wicket and working very hard for his runs.

The Bready bowling was top notch with Kelly and Dougherty picking up 2 wkts each and the promising McCorkell finishing with figures of 6-2-12-1.

 

In reply Bready started steadily getting to 18 in the 7th over before Blair-White dismissed McCloskey caught by Streek at mid off. Kelly (7) then lifted the score to 32 with Dougherty before A.Shukla dismissed the former lbw. Streek then removed the dangerous Dougherty (17) caught by Stephen Keane at square-leg to reduce the home side to 32/3 in the 14th over. Shukla then took his 2nd wicket getting rid of Crumley (1) caught by Lewis at mid-on, score 36/4 and YM were on top. Next the over that turned the match as Tector once again rose to the occasion. In the 18th over he took the wickets of McKeegan (lbw), Myles (bowled 1st ball) and then 2 balls later McInnes (stumped) by Captain McGovern. Bready had slumped to 41/7 at the end of the 18th. A good partnership of 20 in 4 overs by McClelland (7) and McCorkell lifted Bready to 61 before Tector bowled the former to take his 4th wicket. Blair-White returned to bowl Harper and fittingly Tector caught Gidwani off Kirk, at short mid-off to give YM victory by 27 runs. McCorkell was left stranded on 21* from 27 balls as Bready were bowled out for 68 in the 24th over.

All the YM bowlers were fantastic, backed up by great fielding. 2 wickets each for the reliable Blair-White and Shukla with his bowl of the season. The Captain McGovern had a great game behind the sticks leaving coaches Rob O'Connor (another All-Ireland winning team) and Kamal Merchant beaming.