Review of Divisions 1 & 2 for the weekend 9th - 10th July
There was a lot of cricket played last weekend: the semi finals of the LHW Senior Cup; and a full programme of fixtures in each of the top two divisions. I was at Kenure to see North County ease into the final by scoring too many for Rush. There was a wobble at 97-3 after openers Mossie Shiel (34) and Conor Armstrong (32) had provided the platform, but Adam Coughlan (20) combined with Richie Lawrence (60) to set up Josh Reeves (67), Daniel Nolan (37) and Eddie Richardson (26*) for a big finish to reach 323-7. After an opening partnership of 47, Rush wasted away, only Eoghan Conway (24) and Alan Butterly (27) getting past 20 as they were all out for 140 in the 32nd over, Reeves taking 3/24.
In the other semi final at Anglesea Road, Merrion made their way to a 60 over total of 294-8 through 101 from skipper Johnny Anderson and 59 from Kade Beasley. Willie Wides contributed 30. Matt Petrie and Dom Joyce had Clontarf 6-3, and the recovery was interrupted when Joe Morrissey was run out for 23. Rod Hokin soldiered on for 66, but Petrie returned to end on 3/19 and Anderson claimed 3/24 as 'Tarf were all out for 169 in the 49th over.
Clontarf were in league action the next day, and having removed Russell and Hopkins, allowed Pembroke to recover through Theo Lawson (28), Stephen Moreton (67) and Jono Hickey (72) to make 262 all out in the 49th over. Bill Coghlan took 3/47 and Vijay Gopal 3/68. In reply, Clontarf reached 55-1 and 126-3 (Joe Morrissey 57, Eoghan Delany 41) before crumbling to 193 all out. Barry McCarthy marked his return to Pembroke colours with 3/36. I know Clontarf were missing Alex Cusack and Andrew Poynter, but I expected much better of them in both weekend matches.
Merrion were on fire at Anglesea Road as Matt Petrie knocked over Railway's top four and Dom Joyce added Mo Tariq to leave the Shunters on 20-5. Graeme McDonnell is always combative, and Paddy Conliffe is shooting up the batting averages (see ***). They put on 167 for the sixth wicket before McDonnell was out for 75. Conliffe went on to 91* as Railway reached 237-8 in their 50 overs, Matt Petrie returning 6/32. Merrion were in a good position at 97-2, but John Anderson (37) became the first of Zulfiqar Mansoor's Guildford, and Merrion dribbled to 177 all out in 46 overs. It was the spinners what did it – Mansoor 4/45, Lambert 2/30, Aslam 2/7 and Collins 1/24 – to effect a great recovery for the Wheeltappers.
I was at Milverton to watch the clash of the two least consistent sides in Division 1. Phoenix crashed to 35-5 in the face of a Naz Guildford. Corie Dickeson (31) and Jeremy Bray (33) made some sort of recovery, but Max Sorensen finished off Phoenix for 130 all out with 4/17 to go with Naseer's 4/38. The Hills tried Malcolm Byrne as an opening bat – he got a life on 2 and went on to make 41 with Manu Kumar's 24. Mike Baumgart and Sorensen finished things off for a seven wicket win.
YMCA put in a gritty performance at Inch, but couldn't quite manage to do for North County. The home team went from 33-0 to 61-5 before Josh Reeves and Jonno Andrews began the recovery. After Jonno was run out, Eddie Richardson played Tweedledum with 50, Terry Richardson Tweedledee with 29 off nine balls, while Josh Reeves made 101* out of 267-8. For YM, Jonny Harte took 3/27. Lewie and Rainy went early doors, but Shammy Ahmed (65), Sameer Dutt (32), Albert van der Merwe (46) and rave from the grave Gussie Dunlop (38) kept their team in the hunt until they were all out 25 runs short in the 49th over. Adam Coughlan took 3/42. Those results leave County ahead of The Hills and the rest of the pack, with Phoenix slightly adrift.
In Division 2, on Saturday The Hills second string travelled down the M8 with a weakened side, so short that Martin Russell had to make his Senior debut at the age of 63 and quite a bit – is this a record? The Wilberries were 112-4 at one stage (Tomas Murphy 33), but thereafter the only highlight was Hobbs's 2* out of 132 all out in the 47th over. The Banks of my own lovely Lee took 2/26 off his ten, and Sid Joshi 4/8 off 8. Ross Durity continued his good form with 74*, Shannon Madden 37* as Cork County won by ten wickets inside 25 overs.
Malahide are well used to low, slow tracks, but as low and as slow as the Cabra pudding? Old Belvedere posted a decent par score of 177, held together by 42 from former Village cricketer Simmi Singh. Jimmy Govan took 3/22 and Glenda Kirwan 2/23. John Pryor (46) and Jimmy Govan (24) gave Malahide a super start, but at 123-6 it was squeaky pants time. Up stepped Sirash Kiran (38) and Pete Saville (25*) to see their team home by three wickets.
On the magic carpet in Dublin 6W, North County 2 could post only 128 (Cormac McLoughlin 43, Shane Murphy 24), about 150 short of a score. Warhorses Plates Brennan (3/20) and John Hoey (4/40) made hay, to mix several metaphors. The team formerly known as the Clee took their time, going in to the 28th over to win by seven wickets, former County man Andre Botha making 49* and former Leinster man Kenny McDonald 35.
Horror story of the day was at Rathmines, where Rush went from 75-1 (Lionel Jansen 41) to 85 all out. Joe Carroll took 4/27 and Peter Byrne 5/1 as the ducks far outnumbered the drakes. Leinster took nearly 20 overs to get the runs, for the loss of three wickets, with Craig Mallon 30* and JP O'Dwyer 26*. That win leaves Leinster top, just ahead of Terenure, while Cork County and The Hills 2 have their heads just above the relegation mire.
There is no Senior cricket this weekend. Saturday sees the Tillain Cup, YM Salver and Whelan Cup decided at Rathmines – sounds like a good day out to me! On Sunday most of the Senior sides do battle for a place in the finals of the Alan Murray Cup in round robin matches at Inch, Castle Avenue, Phoenix Park and Cold Blow Lane. Unless there's a sudden heatwave, guess where I won't be!